James Kenji Lopez-Alt
patreon
Dear Alcohol, we need to talk.
🕑 Added 2024-12-17 23:04:13 +0000 UTCI have not been quiet about my sobriety journey, but I have also never explicitly talked about it.
Today, I’m going to.
I’d like to share with you a letter I wrote as the final assignment for the first phase of an outpatient recovery program I’m completing with Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers, at their East Lake location. The letter is a breakup letter to alcohol. It’s something everyone who goes through the first phase of the program does. It sounds silly—and maybe it is, but I found doing it to be deeply cathartic.
Some quick background.
I started drinking when I was 18 years old. By the time I was 19, I was drinking every day. I maintained this daily drinking for the next 25 years. The only exceptions were days in which I literally could not get my hands on alcohol. I rarely drank to excess—I was an alcoholic, but not a binge drinker—and though I did plenty of stupid things due to my drinking, I was never a “problematic” drunk. I didn’t get belligerent, I didn’t get clumsy. Most of the time even the people closest to me would not know I had been drinking.
But I sure knew.
For years I tried to quit drinking on my own. It was a question of health. Once my daughter was born, I decided I wanted to try and live as long and as healthy a life as I could. Cutting back on drinking was part of that commitment. But as any addict can tell you, your rational brain is not always in control of your body.
I tried quitting with the help of friends. I tried with therapists. I tried with the help of a psychiatrist and prescription drugs.
In September of 2023, my therapist, perhaps sensing my growing desperation, casually suggested that it couldn't hurt to try out a couple of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
As an atheist, I’d always avoided AA. The spiritual elements, intertwined with the organization's religious history, were hard to stomach. What finally convinced me to reconsider was the inspiration I drew from two other folks in the food industry: Andrew Zimmern, who has been extremely vocal about his recovery over the last couple of decades, and Devan Rajkumar, a fellow chef who embarked on his own recovery journey a couple of years ago. Hearing their stories of struggle and triumph, witnessing their raw honesty about addiction, and speaking to them personally about their recovery gave me the courage to take those first tentative steps. In fact, their openness is part of what has inspired me to share my own story.
Despite my lingering misgivings, I reluctantly attended a couple of AA meetings. (As it turned out, my preconceived notions about AA were completely unfounded. I’ve since come to have a much deeper understanding of the role of spirituality, both in AA and in life, but that's a subject for another day.) I continued to drink during those first couple months of meetings, grappling with denial and resistance, but eventually, I found a sponsor and began the challenging work of the steps.
On October 29th, 2023, I decided that I’d had my last drink. With the exception of a one day relapse in the spring of 2024, I maintained that sobriety until last June, when I decided that I could re-introduce some marijuana into my life. My reasoning was that in the years I had been drinking, marijuana had never been an issue for me to pick up and put down at will. I had an alcohol problem, not a marijuana problem, I thought to myself.
After I started smoking pot, it quickly escalated into an addiction that nearly approached the problems I had with alcohol. It took some time to realize it, but I did, and I’ve since committed to quitting marijuana and all other mind-altering substances as I move forward in life.
I had my last joint on September 15th and started my outpatient program at Lakeside-Milam on September 23rd.
I’m now at just over 90 days of full recovery, and feeling great.
There’s a lot to learn about this disease, as I’ve been discovering over the last year and change.
But the big thing—the thing that really transformed my perception—was to learn that alcoholism is not a moral failing. It is not a personality flaw. It is not something to judge yourself on, and not something to be ashamed of or to hide away.
It is a disease that affects millions of people, and if those people are anything like me, it’s a disease that can fill us with shame. It’s a disease that can turn us into liars and cheats. It’s a disease that can make us feel like we are alone, or that we are undeserving of love and respect.
I’m still in the early stages of my own recovery, but I’ve been encouraged by folks in the program to share my story publicly, with the hope that others will know that the shame they feel is not unique to them.
I’m sure I’ll be sharing more about my recovery going forward, but suffice it to say for now, I’m going to continue walking this road.
So without further ado, here is my breakup letter to alcohol.
*****************************
Dear Alcohol,
This is a letter I never thought I'd write, a farewell to a companion who has been by my side for longer and more consistently than any other friend I’ve ever had. It's time to say goodbye. After all these years, after all the laughter and tears, the highs and lows, the triumphs and the regrets, I'm finally breaking up with you.
I remember when we first met. Eighteen years old, crammed into a bathroom with friends after a chamber music concert, passing you around in a bottle. You turned me, the shy, awkward kid, into the life of the party. Suddenly, I was funny, I was engaging, people were actually drawn to me. You were like a magic potion, dissolving my anxieties and unlocking a version of myself that had spent years locked away, hidden from view. A side with confidence and charisma. A side with the ability to speak to other people. For the first time in my life, I felt truly comfortable in my own skin, thanks to you.
Remember those early days in college?
You were there, supporting me as I redefined myself. You helped me break free and transform from the shy, insecure kid I used to be. You gave me the liquid courage to approach people, to make friends, to learn how to start relationships. Admittedly, you made it difficult to build those relationships in honest, healthy ways. Still, the confidence you gave me was invaluable. You transformed my life.
With you, I conquered my fear of rejection. You silenced the doubts that used to hold me back. With you by my side, I could be anyone I wanted to be; a confident, charming version of myself. You fueled those nights of fleeting connections, the thrill of the chase, the satisfaction of proving myself worthy. You made me feel desired and wanted. You made me feel invincible; like I could do anything, be anyone, and be with anyone.
And that was enough. I made a commitment to you. The longest, most loyal commitment I’ve ever maintained. I told you we’d be together every day, and I’d stick with you as long as you stuck with me.
Sure, some of your ugliness started to show even then. You convinced me to be with people I didn’t want to be with. You convinced me that if I was ever alone, that the loneliness might last forever. You convinced me that I should sleep around, to always keep my options open. You convinced me that if anyone ever questioned your intentions, they were the problem, not you. You convinced me that nobody would ever be as faithful to me as you were.
I trusted you to guide me, and followed your every instruction. You were the most reliable friend I had, always there when I needed someone to celebrate with or commiserate with.
You were there through the long hours in restaurant kitchens, a loyal companion who met up with me every night to help me calm down after an adrenaline-packed shift, to help me unwind, or to help pump me back up if I had a difficult night.
But mornings were a different story. You were never kind in the morning. I remember going into work feeling like we’d gotten into a fight the night before. Like my head was still in a fog. Like I needed to sleep to get you out of my mind. I sometimes thought to myself, “this relationship isn’t working. I’m going to stop seeing you.”
But every time, when nighttime rolled around, you’d be back, and I’d welcome you with open arms (and an open mouth).
You were my companion during those long days at the magazine test kitchen, and you introduced me to new friends. The other folks who loved your company even more than I did. Introducing me to those friends was a smart move on your part. You made me believe that because your relationship with them was so much more fraught, so much more difficult, that you and I had something special. That we supported and looked out for each other. Compared to them, we had it great.
Still, those difficult mornings continued. There were days when you left me in such a haze that I had to sleep on the floor of the bathroom or take long walks in the park just to get you off my mind. We were real good at keeping our affairs secret though. (Or we thought we were good at it, at least). My friends and co-workers knew you as the fun companion who tagged along from time to time. Sometimes they might catch a whiff of you on my breath in the morning, or notice that I was more tired than I should have been after a night with you. But they didn’t see the reality: we saw each other every single night, and even during the day, my thoughts were often preoccupied with you.
After I got married and life started to get more serious and quiet, you were still there. I found ways to incorporate you into my work, my weekends, all of my routines.
You were there when I was alone. Helping me find inspiration as I wrote my first cookbook, the one that would launch my career and change my life forever. You were a fixture in my office, always by my desk, an arm’s reach away when I needed a quick escape from the pressures of deadlines, or if I needed some liquid inspiration while writing in the late afternoon. You were my indulgence, a way to celebrate small victories and cope with the inevitable setbacks. You were a part of my creative process, a muse that helped me unlock new ideas and push the boundaries of culinary innovation.
You were there for the milestones, the celebrations, the moments of triumph. We toasted to every success, every achievement, every dream come true.
But somewhere along the way, the shine started to wear off. Those doubts you used to silence? They came back, louder than ever, amplified by the hangovers and the regrets. The confidence you gave me? It started to feel hollow, a performance rather than a genuine reflection of who I was.
You became a master of disguise, hiding your true nature behind a veil of good times and fleeting escapes. You convinced me that I needed you to cope with the stress of my growing career, the pressures of fatherhood, the challenges of marriage. But the truth is, even though those problems would have existed without you, you were the one exacerbating them. You were the one deceiving me and preventing me from being honest about what my problems truly are.
Remember those nights I'd come home from work exhausted, promising myself I'd just relax with my wife? You were always there, whispering in my ear, tempting me with the promise of a quick release, a temporary escape from the demands of life. And I'd give in, time and time again, sacrificing precious moments of connection with my family for your fleeting embrace.
Even then I knew we had to break up, but it was just so hard to quit you.
As time went on, you fueled my anxieties, turning me into a liar, someone who hid bottles in the garage, who snuck sips when no one was looking, who downplayed the amount I drank to doctors and therapists. You eroded my wife's trust. Her observation that I was spending a little too much time with you, despite my hiding it, turned into a recurring accusation, a reminder of my inability to control myself.
You were there during the darkest moments, the depression, the loneliness, the overwhelming pressure of trying to be everything to everyone. You offered a temporary escape from the pain, a fleeting moment of oblivion. But the relief you provided was always short-lived, leaving me feeling worse than before, trapped in a cycle of dependence and despair.
You even followed me on family vacations, turning what should have been relaxing getaways into stressful exercises in hiding my drinking. I'd meticulously plan my days around your availability, making sure that no matter where we were, you could be with us, whether it was at a distillery tour, a fancy restaurant, or a quick trip to the hotel bar to see you while my kids napped. You were a constant shadow, a weight I carried everywhere I went.
And then there were the blackouts. The lost nights, the fragmented memories, the fear of what I might have done or said while under your influence. You snuck your way into me just before a plane ride, even though I swore I’d take the trip alone. You hitchhiked your way into me at the bar by the gate just before takeoff, then you hijacked my body and knocked me out. I found myself waking up on the floor in the airplane aisle, surrounded by concerned faces, my head pounding, my dignity shattered. You did this to me.
That was a wake-up call, a stark reminder of the danger you posed, not just to myself, but to others.
The truth is, Alcohol, I've outgrown you, and I’ve outgrown your cousin marijuana and all of your other mind-altering relatives. I've learned that true strength comes from facing my challenges head-on, not from numbing myself to the world. I've discovered that real happiness lies in genuine connection, in vulnerability and authenticity. I’ve found that I am enough just the way I am, that I do not need you to be confident or loveable. I’ve realized I do not need to hide behind a mask of intoxication.
Leaving you won't be easy. I know there will be times when I miss your comforting presence, when I crave the temporary escape you offered. But I'm committed to moving on, to building a life that is grounded in reality, in honesty, and in self-love. I’m doing it for my children. I’m doing it for my family. I’m doing it for my friends. I’m doing it for every stranger I meet. I’m doing it for my partner.
And I’m doing it for myself.
Thank you for the lessons you've taught me, both good and bad. I will carry the confidence you gave me with me for the rest of my life. But it's time for me to say goodbye, to finally let go of the past and embrace a future without you. A future filled with hope and possibility.
Farewell, Alcohol.
Sincerely,
Kenji
****************
Resources for Alcohol Abuse and Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Website: www.aa.org
Find a meeting near you and access valuable resources for those seeking support through AA’s 12-step program.
National Helpline for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)
Phone: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Website: www.samhsa.gov
A free, confidential helpline available 24/7 for individuals and families facing substance use issues.
Al-Anon Family Groups
Website: www.al-anon.org
Support for friends and family members of individuals struggling with alcohol addiction.
Comments
Andy V.
I started cooking your recipes from Serious Eats around 10 years ago, proudly own 'The Food Lab', and follow you on YouTube. You've helped me enjoy cooking and get halfway decent at it. I started my Recovery, Memorial Day 2021. Best decision ever. Stay strong one day at a time Kenji.
Calvin hesse
Thank you Kenji, your story and writing echos my own journey. Thank you for sharing and being such an inspiration!
Jim Hutchison
I needed a good cry. Thanks.
Tim Moss
You have made me rethink. The easiest thing for me would be to keep drinking too much; the next easy thing would be to give up totally. Moderation is do tough for me, a grown up relationship with alcohol is what I would ❤️
Stephen Leonard
Thank you, Kenji for this very personal piece of your heart. I too have been in and out of the rooms and know the darkness. Your story is strength for me. Stay strong my friend
Maria Lesniak
Thank you so much for being real. What you have written is powerful and so helpful!
Dario
Hi Kenji, I support your sobriety - I am also cutting down on my drinking recently. Just one thing: please do not take your late night cooking (and drinking) videos offline. They are classics and I would sorely miss them. Thanks for your life's work, you have improved my cooking skills quite a bit!
Jackson Gibbs
For any Atheists or recovering involuntary christians like myself who just can't get over a guttural repulsion for AA, give Recovery Dharma's guided meditations 5 minutes a day for a week and see how you feel. Nearly two years on, I found myself at a clarity and fairly effortless sobriety that absolutely amazes me still every day!
S4 Bombshell
This is a great tip! As someone on low dose naltrexone, I just want to add something a lot of people (including non-fertility related doctors) don’t know that’s really important. It can and is used by doctors for quite a lot of off label things, including help with increasing fertility and viability of pregnancy. If you’re AFAB and pregnancy is a concern (or if you know someone for whom that is the case) please be mindful of the fertility effects when taking naltrexone. If anyone out there is TTC and this sounds like a great bonus side effect to you, I hope you are successful.
Jill Margolis
Kenji, what you have shared and given to people is such a gift. Thank you for your honesty and opening a door that others may follow you through. Much love to you and, of course, thank you for all your amazing food and teaching! ❤️
Mary Niu
Thank you for your vulnerability. I just wanted to encourage you to keep on, keep on. I think sharing and openness is another step towards freedom.
Ronald Felthoven
Hey Kenji - local guy who’s stoked you moved up here and who quit alcohol two weeks ago. You inspired me and you’re helping soften the stigma. I’m excited to get all my time back!
Benjamin Warren
I just saw a tikTok on long acting version of naltrexone. It was a PBS clip. Maybe will help. Thank you so much for sharing!
MrFusion
Hey Kenji…you don’t know me but I’ve been a huge fan of yours for a while now. I’ve been drinking for as long as I can remember and just recently started coming to terms with it. The irony is that you were my confidant during COVID. I can’t blame everything on the pandemic but it definitely amplified some bad habits which I never shook after the world returned to normal. I still remember staying up late and drinking whiskey while watching and recreating your POV cooking videos late at night. I feel so much of my experience in your words. It’s comforting to know I’m not alone especially considering how isolating this can feel in the moment.
Andrew Henke
You're the best Kenji - you've got all of our love and support
James Kenji Lopez-Alt
Thanks for that andrew!
James Kenji Lopez-Alt
Everyone is different! Just ask!
Eric Filteau
I’ve never had a problem with addiction. I drink infrequently and, even though I work at a cannabis dispensary, I don’t use marijuana. I know alcoholism and other addictions can manifest in different ways with people, but I never know how to ask about possible triggers. Will that penne à la vodka set my friend up for a binge session? Am I being overly scrupulous? It’s difficult for me to know how to best support my friends on their journey to sobriety, when it’s a journey I’ve never had to make and with the wine I tend to use in cooking (yes I know much of the alcohol dissipates in the cooking process, but there are people who’ve maintained that even the flavor can be a danger).
Andrew Henke
Kenji - you’ve been in my life regularly since 2009. I wrote a letter to you today on my Substack, so grateful for you. https://open.substack.com/pub/aletterfor/p/a-letter-for-j-kenjo-lopez-alt?r=1k90o7&utm_medium=ios
indianbadger
I too came in distrusting the program. What inspired me is the blogpost by Roger Ebert, who was quite open about his Atheism. I think of Roger as my grand-sponsor! I still consider myself an Agnostic even after 10+ years in the program. I found online secular AA meetings helpful, along with traditional AA. https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/my-name-is-roger-and-im-an-alcoholic https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AuWy7FKCG-R_pyRZzEjFXkH-Rw_0VEzi/edit?pli=1&gid=656871302#gid=656871302
sarah
I've always used your recipes as my "gold standard" and religiously read your books and followed your channel. I'm also an alcoholic. After years of fighting it and trying all my tricks to hide it and beat it on my own, I finally decided to get help. I went to my first med detox appointment and came home, hopeful but also scared and ashamed. I opened reddit and someone linked this. Reading this and seeing both your vulnerability and how much I related to your words was *exactly* what I needed at exactly the right time. Thank you for sharing and i hope you know how much you've touched and helped so many of us. Today is day 4 of (hopefully) many. PS I'm making your 3 ingredient mac and cheese for dinner ;)
Nicole
Thank you for sharing your vulnerabilities & being authentic. I wish you the best from a fan & fellow human.
Ivan Glasgo
That was beautiful, I’m really happy for you! I’m coming up on 7 years sober in AA, it really does work when you work it!
Tom H
You’re such a talented writer. I’ve been a fan of yours for years and as a recovering alcoholic myself your story closely resembles mine. Thanks for sharing. Keep it up.
Tina P
Wow. What a beautiful letter, Kenji. So much admiration for you!
Daniel Pirone
I have a very similar story. I am 2.5 years sober with thanks to my chosen family. I was not able to look past the religious aspects of AA - and had great luck with https://smartrecovery.org
Zac Smith
Thank you for sharing. My sobriety date is 12/29/2020. I did a similar post on Facebook when I made it to 6 weeks sober, and it helped me more than I realized. I was also a daily drinker, only 2-4 drinks, and the part about hiding it, underplaying how much I drank, and planning my day around when and how I'd drink resonated with me. I think every alcoholic knows they have a problem deep down, but not everyone does something about it. Stay strong, and I'll be rooting for you.
Jamison Robison
My one year mark was October 24, 2024. My friends have been super supportive, but I’ve struggled with being able to vocalize to them WHY I quit. Your words hit like a ton of bricks: I had simply outgrown that relationship. Thank you for years of inspiration in the kitchen and in life! I’m cheering you on, my friend!
Chris R
Happy for you Kenji! I'm coming up on 13 years since my last sip.
Peggy McNabb
Such courage you have. Thank you for your transparency.
ck
he isn’t perpetuating anything. you are projecting your own dissatisfaction with AA upon him. he is merely sharing what worked for him.
Martin Burgess
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I just want to say how proud I am of you for coming this far on your recovery journey and that you have people rooting for you all over the world. Big internet hugs.
Andy
That was incredible, Kenji. Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing what must have been a very difficult thing to write. I’m at almost six years sober myself, but your words still rang true. It just makes me think that, even if our paths are completely different, alcohol affects us in the same way. Congrats on the 90 days. Keep it up! Rooting for you.
Prateek
I've been an admirer of your work for a few years now, and your willingness to be so open about such a difficult subject has only deepened that admiration. I've also been sober for about six years or so. It's been a weird journey that's very much changed the trajectory of my life in ways that I still struggle with. Still, I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you for sharing this.
Allen Lee Hubby and Emerson Eller da Silva
Oh MAN! So brave of you. We love you, Kenji. THE FOOD LAB is our bible. We mostly cook you and Melissa Clark (and Gritzer when off diet -- his tomato sauce is a dream). I am sog lad you wrote this and made it public. My husband and I stopped drinking a few months ago. It was very hard. We are much happier -- and thinner!
Chuck White
You are a class act Kenji, whether in the kitchen or sharing your personal trials and tribulations. I truly appreciate the way you choose to use your life lessons to make people better. I long ago realized that I have an issue with addiction. I'm currently on my second bout of sobriety. The first lasted 14 years and then I thought perhaps I could become a social drinker, right! Anyway four years later I was nearing retirement and didn't want alcohol to control me or be any part of my life. it took a couple of tries but now I have been sober again for three years. I must say that I'm sure I will be able to finish my life story being sober due to two reasons; 1. alcohol really did nothing to make my life better, it only endangered my relationships & my health 2. Alcohol affected my clarity, my ability to think, to remember and to process thoughts. As someone approaching 70 years of life, the thought of dementia, Alzheimer's are bad enough, but my drinking was giving me many of the same issues, why would I wish that on anyone, much less myself? Anyway thanks for sharing and best wishes to you and your journey, I'm sure you will succeed!
Kai Moro
I appreciate this and the vulnerability Kenji. Day 2 without my old companion. I know it’s going to be hard. But I’m just sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time. This letter was well written and I will most likely reread it again and again. Love you Kenji! You continue to inspire so many including myself. You’ve got this!!!!
Jen Small
Kenji, you are such an inspiration to me. Just on the food front, I rely on your expertise and joyful cooking, and recommend your recipes and techniques to all of my friends. Thank you for sharing this part of yourself and your journey too. I am cheering you on, and thank you for inspiring so many and destigmatizing this disease. I will be thinking of you and sending good vibes as I make my homemade breakfast sandwiches, smash burgers, perfect mashed potatoes and gorgeous roast turkey :)
Patrick McGoldrick
Thank you for your share, Kenji. Just over 90 days myself, after also having wrote a farewell letter a couple months ago. You’ve always been an inspiration to me in the kitchen, and now you are an inspiration in vulnerability and recovery. Thank you, chef.
Nicholas DuPont
Thank you for sharing, Kenji. I hope you inspire more people to live poison free.
Bates Barley
Thanks so much Kenji. Your honestly will release people into freedom and break chains.
Melinda Bowers Dorman
My daughter is a Christian but still AA never worked for her. She finally found freedom from the addiction but it wasn't through a 12 step program. She did do some of that work in Celebrate recovery programs but those programs seemed to make her want to relapse for some reason.
Melinda Bowers Dorman
Watching my daughter's alcohol addiction (and his cousin Mary jane), really and truly educated me on this terrible disease. I believe it is one of the most difficult addictions to conquer to to its wide acceptance and availability. It took her a good 3 years to break up with alcohol and then several more to beat the other addictions. Her journey started 12 years ago and she has recently stopped smoking and is fighting the last addiction, nicotine. Keep up the good work. It is worth it. ❤️
Car
Amazing! Good for you, Kenji. Always rooting for you since CI days.
Ike Sallas
17 months today. Took 10 years of treatment centers and misguided notions I either had the disease figured out or could control it. It took a doctor saying that my next relapse would kill me to open my eyes. Same ideas relating to AA but the program is much more than that. It is an attempt to be human again, to recognize your own struggle and that you are not alone in that struggle. To open up just the possibility of growth and change. I ran from the notion of a higher power or a sky daddy but I was blind to the deeper intentions of a group of drunks just trying to make it out. Best of luck on your pilgrimage and many thanks for your honesty and all the lessons, cooking and other wise, you have brought into my life.
Camille Vanessa Taylor-Nickles
The Sinclair Method is another approach for dealing with alcoholism and it has a much higher success rate than AA. It is criminally underknown. Weirdly, one of the spokes for it is Claudia Christian, who was on a show called Babylon 5 which had a character named Sinclair, but it is unrelated. https://www.sinclairmethoduk.com/what-is-the-sinclair-method/
Anne Casselman
My husband just realized he has an alcohol dependency a couple weeks ago, and it’s been so painful. This letter came to me at exactly the right time for me. It was an inspiring read. I sent it to my husband too who related so much to it. Thank you for sharing.
Sunny Gulati
Love you brother.
Heather O'Gara
Thank you. You probably know more than most people how ubiquitous alcohol is in both the classical music world and (from what it looks like) the cooking world. 7+ years ago, I was scared that I wouldn't be able to participate in the only social life I knew, that people would judge me and I would lose all my friends and professional opportunities. No such thing happened- people didn't care or were impressed by my strength in not drinking. In a world that wants us kept tired and disconnected, the clarity that comes from sobriety is power. Congrats on getting to the other side!
Alex D'Arata-Wolfe
First of all, congratulations and best wishes going forward in your recover. Second, I was pretty sad once I realized this was another "I thought AA was wrong for me, but nothing else worked. It's actually awesome" story. I'm 11 years sober (from alcohol, I did start smoking pot a few years back. It's not a great habit, but it hasn't derailed my life like drinking did) .and, while AA is a remarkable program it is NOT the only option. I use to believe that AA was the only way to get sober because I'd hear stories like yours from people I respected and they all end with the realization that AA was great, actually. I still never hear stories of recovery that don't involve 12-step stuff. Of course a huge part of that is that nearly every addiction recovery program in the country has a strong (frequenty mandatory) 12-step element. We only had 4 meetings a week at the rehab facility I went to and I was grateful to find somewhere that had so few. They read the Lord's Prayer at the first AA meeting I ever went to (I'm Jewish), when I asked about it, they told me that's just what I should expect and to "take what I need and leave the rest." iaWe don't all have the luxury of being able to do that. Would you tell a gay young adult who was abused by hyper-religious parents and has PTSD responses to Christian stuff to just deal with it? Well, maybe there's a less religious meeting in the area-- or maybe there isn't. A non-religious person can absolutely make AA work, but that doesn't mean every non-religious person can. You have to meet AA where it is, it doesn't meet you where you are. There people who are not and may never be in a place where AA will work for them. Maybe they have an anxiety disorder and going into a room full of people is terrifying. Or maybe the only meeting in their area outside work hours is just full of racists. Most of that I could deal with all that if AA acknowledged that other ways of getting sober are valid but it doesn't. When I talk to a die-hard AA-er about my sobriety they tell me I'm not "really" sober (they said that even before I started smoking pot) because I didn't do it their way. Sorry to be a downer here, but maybe there's someone reading this post thinking to themselves "I need help but I can't do AA, I guess I'm dying drunk." I'm writing this for that person. There are other options. Anyway, Kenji, next time you write about your recovery consider including a link to an alernate program like SMART Recovery so you're not perpetuating the myth that recovery doesn't exist outside a 12-step framework. Love your work. Sorry again to be a downer.
Cari
I lost my sister to alcoholism almost 20 years ago. She was the best human I ever knew. I talk about her all the time—I want to tell the world that struggles like this can happen to anyone of us. Alcohol loves us all—regardless of race, religion, or socioeconomic stratum. Alcohol’s an unscrupulous bitch. I’m so very glad you’ve found your way and your reason to get out from under it’s thumb. I’ve long admired you and followed your blogs and YouTube and such, Kenji. But now my admiration has no bounds. Thank you thank you thank you for shining a light on your beautiful, human frailty. You will save lives with your bravery and vulnerability. Our world needs more of this. Your letter made me think of kintsugi—the Japanese practice of mending with silver and gold—creating pieces that are so much more beautiful than they were before. Being unbroken is overrated. The joy and the life and the beauty are found in the repair. My best to you!
Nicholas Pozsar
Thank you for sharing. I’ll be praying for you.
Michael Weidinger
Something that I’ve found to be true: Quitting drinking doesn’t make life easier but it does allow you to observe it with a much greater degree of clarity
Patrick Kafka
Thank you for sharing this. It is all a little too relatable and also so inspiring. It seems like you've got a great start on a forever change for the better.
Jessica Hutchinson
Wishing you the best as you continue this journey, Kenji. Nothing about any of this is easy and everyday you don’t drink (or smoke) is one to be celebrated. The impact from your story is tremendous. So many of us suffer with alcoholism personally or through someone close to us. Thank you for sharing and thank you as always for your videos! ❤️
Drew Williams
Good luck, Kenji! I am almost six years sober myself and it has made my life so much better.
Scott Fassett
Inspiring, really appreciate your vulnerability
Steve Elder
Thanks for sharing your breakup letter with us. You are often in my thoughts, once it was just for the culinary inspiration you have given to so many, but more recently wishing you hope and joy in your journey.
Angela Barkes-Draz
Thank you for this! In our house, we have all your cookbooks and to my hubs, you are ‘my bro Kenji’. I will celebrate 5 yrs on the 26th and my hubs is in his second year of sobriety. Now we feel even closer to you! I wish you the best in your future walk. It will not be pleasant at times and your ‘friend’ will taunt you from time to time and you’ll be counting minutes sometimes. Go to a meeting when that happens! Call your sponsor! Take a brisk walk! I believed Alcohol after a 2.5y sobriety that I could just do 1. DONT BELIEVE HIM! I relapsed full force. So yes I’m on my second journey and it’s sticking! I support you brother from another mother!
Christopher Cramer
Coming up on 2 years and 4 months. You have been an inspiration to me for a long while, and when I learned you were in recovery it bolstered that that inspiration (and my adoration and respect) tenfold! Thank you for showing up the way you do.
Cathal
Thanks for sharing. Very open, very honest, and beautifully put.
Thomas Macfarlane
Kenji. What courage. ODAAT!
Denise
Thank you for sharing your story. Not to be cliché but giving up the one thing to hang on to everything is a far better choice than giving up everything to hang on to the one thing.
ck
thank you kenji <3
Peter Kim
I am so grateful you shared this. I believe issues with alcoholism are far more pervasive than we can imagine. I hope this inspires others too.
Dino Copses
thanks so much. you are a huge part of my life and I know this is true for millions! We love your relationship with food and your ability to make home chefs feel confident and have the courage to put food on the table every night. Its reassurring to have you in the kitchen with us, helping us in so many ways. Thanks again.
Horatius
Congratulations on your recovery. I didn't know but I suspected when your appearance changed a while ago. You look a lot fresher now. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!
Justine Chapman
Thank for for sharing, for your vulnerability, and just for being you!
Stephen Weisbrod
Thank you for sharing your moving description of those parts of your life.
Gerard Choucroun
Damn.
Fritz Kessler
Thanks for sharing Kenji - appreciate you sharing more of the humanity and challenges behind all your great work, as well the way inspiring way you use your platform generally. All the best to you on this journey!
william berger
In the most non patronizing way, good for you! This takes along strength and as a person who has been dealing with lifelong depression and I appreciate you saying this and helping take the stigma away. Alcohol is a great way to numb those feelings from depression but it also has horrible side effects when it comes to living a successful life. Thank you for your openness and honesty while on your journey, and also thank you for helping break the stigma for people who feel pressured by society to suffer in silence.
Joel
Thank you for being open and vulnerable to share this! I've never had alcohol and don't really plan on it, so I can't directly relate, but hearing your story encourages me with my own challenges and vices that I'm working on. Thanks for all that you do, in the kitchen or in life; you're helping a lot of people!
Shane
Your letter here resonated with me and my own experience with alcohol. You’ve always been someone I look up to and your struggle here is inspiring. Rooting for you!
Rich Mathieson
Thank you for sharing.
James Plachy
Kenji, I don't know if you'll ever see this but I absolutely needed to read this. I decided a couple of years ago that I would quit drinking for "at least a year" on Jan 1, 2025, I've spent the last year clearing bottles out of my house, and visiting breweries for potentially the last time. I don't believe myself to be an alcoholic but the urge to always be somewhere where alcohol would be is strong, and all of my friends don't understand why I'm quitting because I've never been problematic or caused harm to myself or my loved ones with my drinking. But I can feel it, I know it's not good for me and your post makes me think maybe I should quit for good. The other side of this is marijuana, as someone who lives in a state where its legal I have friends who say I should just trade one vice for the other, but it just feels silly and reading what you've said about it makes me confident in my decision to not start. Thanks again, I really needed to read this, hope you have a good holiday.
Ryan Rosenberg
Inspiring words 👏 Happy for you Kenji! This journey isn't easy but your future self and everyone that loves and cares about you will thank you for this courageous decision. You got this!!! <3
Maca Silva
Thanks for sharing. I hope everyone in your former position is able to reach your found clarity. It's so difficult to convey to an addict that you love them for who they are without the drugs and alcohol. We loved that simple self. But I guess they need to love it too. I wish you the best days ahead!
Kari Whitaker
One day at a time life's most precious gifts begin to reveal themselves to us. Alanon served me well in understanding my side of this disease. Reading your letter and all the familiarity. Clean and courageous! Our journey just marked 10 years. One day at a time it is all possible again. Thank you for sharing.
Sir Everest
This was powerful. Thank you for sharing this.
Mike Corpuz
Thank you for sharing, Kenji. It’s not easy and I’m glad you found the help you needed. I experienced a similar breaking point last year. Reading this helped me. Stay strong on your journey.
Pedro Montoya
I wish you all the best!!
Katie Dial
I admire you for sharing. I've admired you so many years for teaching me how to cook and helping me understand what is happening when I cook. I admire you even more for sharing your experience with alcohol and recovery. That's a difficult thing to do. And when done right, extremely selfless. I've experienced immense comfort in difficult times of struggle with addiction by listening to people like you, people I admire and respect, share their stories. I turn to them when there's no one else. So thank you. And, someone who has touched me time and time again with his brutal honesty and vulnerability in recovery is the British comedian John Robins, if you're looking for anything like that.
Elizabeth Greschner
as a daughter to an alcoholic and a partner to one. Thank you for being so brave to fight this demon. I can only say from my perspective but my husband gaining sobriety saved our marriage and I know how hard some days are for him. This only makes me more joyful to support you
Nathan Schoenack
I feel like I’m in a very similar place prior to your commitment to quit. Your letter is inspiring, particularly about how it is pulling you away from connecting with your family and the hangovers. Is whatever I think I get out of alcohol going to truly outweigh that which is truly important? It’s a question I will continue to ask myself as I try to find a way to live my life without it.
Griffin Watt
One year sober starting next month. I have done this alone because of similar thoughts and problems with AA as an organization. But this is inspiring me to at least consider it as I still struggle daily to maintain sobriety.
Manu Sniter
Thank you, that was deeply impactful.
María T
Thank you from the daughter of an alcoholic who wishes she could read this from her father.
Joanna Jihanian
Thank you for sharing this. I think your story especially shows that recovery stories aren't necessarily linear, and I'm really glad you found help in AA despite your initial misgivings.
James Kenji Lopez-Alt
I am still an atheist!
Lucinda Formyduval
Thank you. Four years sober, here. Hard years.
Ryan
Congratulations on getting to this far in your journey so far Kenji, everybody talks about how difficult it can be but no one will know that more than yourself. You should be proud of yourself, and best wishes for the rest of your journey ahead!
Alex Earnhardt
Bold of you to share Kenji, best wishes and encouragement on your journey ahead!
Spikie
My mother is an addict, and has struggled all my life with alcohol and drugs. My sisters and I were even taken from her by the state because of it. But what has always been hard for me was that she was a great mom, loving and always wanted the best for us, but we were always second to her addiction. I didn’t get to see her for years after we were taken, and when I finally did she told me if someone had just told her to stop, she would’ve. I think anyone who knows an addict knows it’s not as simple as that. I can’t tell you how important what you’re doing is, and how much your family will appreciate it. I sincerely wish you luck on your recovery.
GG
You made a big difference in some lives today. A big n/a 'cheers' to you.
dan smith
"One cannot heal on the same place you got sick" different paths, different places, different people, different projects.. never torture yourself with triggers always keep your mind occupied. 07/13/18
Elyse
Thank you for sharing. Not just about addiction and about aa, but outpatient too. All of it needs destigmatizing. Watching my husband flail against the embarrassment and perceived failure in outpatient now. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for working at it. I know it hasn’t been clean or straight or easy.
Agustin Manriquez
thank you for this. I forget other humans are vulnerable too
Hiển Lê Gia
Time to pick up X hobby/skill that were pushed back all those years ago, and be the best version of you, like you always do 🫂
Christopher Hobart
Heck yeah dude
Lisa Ingrassia
⚡️ thank you for sharing, for shining a light on what an impact AA can make, and highlighting how much shame plays a role in the cycle of addiction. There’s no shame in needing help.
megarust
Thanks for sharing. And regarding spirituality, I have been a part of the current awakening for the last half year and it has escalated since the election. I’d been agnostic until recently. Things are rapidly changing, right now is a very interesting time to be alive!
Adam Meislik
One day at a time. You are doing great even when there is a quick step back. Keep movin’ on.
Chris Pickard
Thank you for sharing Kenji
Caitlin Stouvenot
Thanks for sharing, Kenji and congrats on 90 days. I’ve just celebrated two years and it’s always a miracle to witness other people’s light turn on after some time and exposure to the fellowship and to the steps. See you on the road to happy destiny ❤️
Kyle Ting
That was beautifully written Kenji. Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable part of your life . Best of luck on your journey!
Kenneth Leeds
Thank you for choosing to be sober today
Donna Dziak
As a child of an alcoholic, I cannot emphasize enough how much your sobriety means to your kids. Addiction hurts kids. Parents who think their kids aren’t affected by their drinking, that they don’t notice it, and worse that they don’t care, are living a lie. Kids notice, they care and are forever affected by it. Thank you for choosing life for yourself and for your kids. Peace and continued healing to you.
Russell Holmes
I share many aspects of you're journey. Day 481 for me. August 14, 2023. Proud to confirm the good parts and learning to navigate the tough ones.
Mary Nelson
Thank you for sharing your story and letter, Kenji. It is through hearing others sober stories that we continue to move forward in on our own journeys. Peer support! ❤️🩹
Cameron Parker
Thank you for always being such an inspiration and encouragement to keep growing and moving forward.
Brian Goldsberry
Thank you Kenzie for sharing such a deeply personal and inspiring story. This brought me back to my own farewell letter to alcohol I wrote back in March. Aside from reading it to my counselor in treatment, I’ve never shared it with anyone. I think now might be the time to share it with my wife. One day at a time my friend.
Ryan Guthrie
I’m so happy you are facing your life under your own control and on your own terms, even though it is difficult and frightening at times. Vulnerability is an important skill that grows with practice. I haven’t had a drink since February 1st of 2023, and am happy to have the company of my favorite Chef in sobriety.
Melissa Hellman
Thank you for sharing all this. Wishing you and your family all the strength moving forward.
Peter W. Speer
In this world it's difficult to be both kind and vulnerable, and I appreciate your ability to do both at the same time. I wish you nothing but love, joy, and days lived as you feel they should be, and hope for your success against the demons you're battling. The journey is never easy, but nothing worth doing is.
John Donovan
Thanks for sharing. This is very powerful and well written.
Emma Groo
Thank you for sharing; especially as a public figure, recovering out loud is so powerful! What you wrote reminded me of a passage from one of my favorite books (sharing here). This stranger is proud of you! It feels good to start living right again. “The truth gnaws at you. In periodic flashes like that I’d be painfully aware that I was living badly, just plain living wrong. But I refused to completely acknowledge or act on that awareness, so the feeling just festered inside like a tumor, gradually eating away at my sense of dignity.” Drinking: A Love Story
Jodi Mowery
“No more breweries!” I wonder how many children have to say that. Thank you for being brave - for sharing your ups and downs. I pray your relationships will heal and only get better and deeper.
Brendan Batchelor
Thank you beyond words for sharing such vulnerability, especially during this time of year which I know can be an extra layer of challenge in itself. I just rounded a year myself this fall and reading and connecting with experiences like yours and others has been instrumental in keeping my head above water. I have been mostly quiet about it but seeing hard work like this and telling others has been such great help for me that it’s inspiring to hope to offer a bit of something to someone out there when I can so I’m trying to be more open. Thank you for all you do in teaching people in so many ways, food and clearly so much more, and keep on keeping on. I will not drink with you today!
R K
I have followed your public presence for years; this was profound to read. I'm glad that you continue to find your path forward and continue to stand in your truth. One day at a time - best wishes.
Cassie
Thank you for sharing <3
Menglan
As a wife of alcoholic, I’m so glad that you’re doing this for your family, your partner and yourself. I wish you the best of your new journey, and I hope your families can also find their recovery paths.
Eashwar Mohan
Kenji, I really appreciate your vulnerability with us and wanted to express how proud I am to be able to see you here on this journey. Keep it up and best wishes!
Bruce Miyahara
❤️ great story and letter! I stopped July 2023. You have been my food educator … now alive educator too. We met briefly at Panama Hotel, Hope we meet again somewhere else again soon! Maybe with Taichi!
sean millane
Proud of you kenji!!!
Stephen Phayre
This is incredibly powerful. Thank you for sharing. I am on my own sobriety journey and hearing other people's stories greatly reinforces my decision to stop drinking a couple of years ago.
Brady Vickers
Wow. Good for you Kenji! Keep working it!
Yvonne S
I only know you through social media, The Recipe, and your books, but if i were able, i would give you a fierce hug. This pist/letter moved me to rears. Bravo, Kenji. All the best to you on this journey.
YoungAmsterdam
I will not drink with you tonight!!!
Russ Brown
Thanks for sharing your life journey honestly. May your holiday's be filled with bright eyed wonder.
Renee
I’m coming up on a year December 31. I relate to this so much. Seeing people who I admire that are also sober keeps pushing me forward. Very well written. Keep fighting the good fight.
Sam Shive
This is awesome. You have a lot to look forward to and I'm glad you chose what's good for your spirit, mind, and body.
Rose Nelson
Wow Kenji, this was incredibly vulnerable and brave. I wish you the best!
Chooch
I’m not quite there yet, brother - but this is nudging me closer. Thank you.
David
You are a brave man. You are embarking on a difficult and frankly never ending journey. By your success on Youtube and of your books you have shown you have the stamina and determination to overcome the obstacles and hazards you will encounter. You have my profound best wishes for your journey.
traceyLee
I read Alcohol Explained by William Porter and lost interest in my (nightly) drinking habit. A booktuber I follow offhandedly mentioned he quit drinking after reading it while talking about something else, so I was curious. Changed my life, and I don't have to go to meetings, which is very, very important to me.
Jeremy Von Phoenix
Bravo, and wishing you well in your sobriety!
R Barbarick
The equivalent of modernist cuisine knowledge exists for addiction. There is a genetic component to addiction for some individuals. Understanding that is worthwhile. Seattle has an informed resource. Best wishes on your journey. https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Johnny-Just-Quit-Understanding-ebook/dp/B00L323PME
Melanie H
I am just an internet stranger, but I’m so proud of you and I’m rooting for you! I just recently hit 18 months with the help of AA, and I know I couldn’t have done it without the community of love and support I found in every AA meeting. Like you, I was (and remain) a lifelong atheist, but luckily it’s a Broad Highway to walk and there’s room for all of us! One minute, one hour, one day at a time 💜
Corwin Graves
Thanks, Kenji. I’m sure it’s not an easy thing to share publicly, but you’re helping so many others by doing so. Best of luck in your journey.
sam fusco
Thank you so much for sharing this. I started my new journey yesterday and the timing of reading this really really helped me out. Thanks again buddy, keep up the great work 🫶
chris hoffman
Everyday bro
Miles Donovan
ODaaT.
GS
Thank you for sharing your story. I know people might be apprehensive, but there are now studies that mounjaro/ozempic also reduce any addiction craving by suppressing the high one gets on drugs. Might be worth a try if anyone in the comments or in the future does not see a way out. Any help, helps.
Zak Kerr
Thank you, thank you, thank you Kenji for getting sober and posting this letter. People telling their stories and struggles with alcoholism is invaluable, I know I wouldn't be sober today if it wasn't for hearing from those that are in recovery. I've been sober for almost 4 years and there were a lot of false starts before it finally stuck, so stay strong and stay committed to being the best version of you. Because you are worth it! I lost my childhood best friend to alcoholism this year at the age of 34. One of the last things we bonded over after not seeing each other for a couple years was our love of cooking. I'll never forget when he came to my place, saw The Food Lab sitting on the coffee table and said, "Wait, is that yours?? Man, Kenji changed my life." I'll never forget how excited he was, so thank you for that.
Fridarey
this is timely (it always is for those who're open to listening) and relevant. You're taking charge and directing your life towards health in a way that's super-admirable. I'm earlier on the journey and can say with 100% conviction that honest commentary like this from folks I already think are good people helps. I'm so grateful for this post
leah
Thank you so much for sharing. I truly appreciate your brutal honesty and hope and joy you provided me. I’m coming to terms with my own form of alcoholism in its own right. This has been a huge blessing to read and a privilege. You are not alone and you are going to get through this!
Chris Argote
Thanks for sharing Kenji. I wrote a similar, though much less eloquent (and with more cursing) letter over 13yrs ago. Reading yours brought me back to those last days when I was trying to get myself squared away in my own sobriety. Reminders of what it was like before are important. Very important. Remember where you were. Remember where you don’t want to be again. See where you are and how far you’ve come. And remember the only thing you have to do is stay sober right now. Right now. In the present. You can do it. It’s worth it, believe me
Lauren
Wow. What an honest, raw experience you've shared so openly. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with your audience. I respect you deeply and will be thinking of you as you step forward each day in your recovery.
Chrust
Hey Kenji, This was a really thoughtful read and I’m happy to hear you’re doing well; I wish you the best of luck with your sobriety. My father passed away earlier this year, mainly from complications arising from his alcohol abuse. Alcohol addiction can be such an easy thing to rationalize and watching it consume someone you love is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Robert
Thank you for sharing, you truly are a very special person. Your work is amazing but the integrity, honesty and genuine carry you express are what separates you from the merely talented to one of the most inspiring people I have ever come across. Keep going!
Tom Bruning
Heartfelt and sad. Here's to a better and healthier future for you and your family. Peace
nnorm
Thank you for sharing this with us man! It was beautiful and inspiring, and I wish you the absolute best on your journey, you rock!! ❤️
karen broyles
Thanks for sharing this. It's so important that people not feel alone in having addiction issues, and it can be particularly helpful when the person talking about their own addiction is someone we respect and admire, someone who has expertise and intelligence we find laudable. Anyone can find themselves facing addiction, and even those of us who know that can benefit from being reminded. Congratulations on your recovery!
wombat_67
Thank you for sharing and for being vulnerable Kenji. You are enough and I hope that our community here is also able to support you. ❤️
Merna Brown
Well to be honest I’m relieved, it is a hard journey but not the disaster I might have thought. You see when I saw videos and pictures of you recently I was concerned (to make it clear, one should not comment on another’s body shape, it’s rude and unhelpful) but you’ve lost so much weight and I at first thought that you have been ill. Now I know you are just in a good place. Thank you for sharing.
Infin1ty
Couldn't read the letter you wrote to alcohol, honestly just felt too personal, but I did read the entire introduction up to that point. I drank extremely heavily the summer between my junior-senior year of high school, pretty much the entire summer. Won't lie, it was the best summer break of high school I ever had. I stopped any kind of regular drinking once school kicked back in. 2010, when I turned 21 was the year I started making it a regular part of my life. About 2-3 years later it became getting drunk pretty much every weekend, and it slowly started creeping into daily use as the years moved on. I've been at the point now for nearly a decade of daily binge drinking unless I just don't have alcohol or my body basically just rejects all liquids for a few days. I have the same aversions to AA as you did. I'm still not ready to fully quit, but I've been working on reducing my intake significantly.
Clemence Desrochers
Thank you
Mike Mertes
I'm sure it's part of why you shared this, but I am a little taken aback at how close to home this hits. Thank you for putting this into the world.
Leah
Respect ❤️
A B
Thanks for sharing, Kenji. We benefit so much from people like you sharing your story. I hope this trend continues- I’ve seen too many friends in the food industry struggle with substances. Voices like yours will absolutely make an impact. Thanks again, and best wishes.
John Wineman
Appreciate you sharing your story. Enjoy this new chapter in your life!
KT Friend
We are all so lucky to have you. You are such a kind, generous human. Thank you for always sharing yourself . ❤️
Kai
Hey Kenji. Thank you so much for sharing this. About the time you started talking publicly about your sobriety journey was about the same time I was realizing I needed to drastically change my drinking habits. You sharing your journey was one of the inspirations for my own journey, and I’m very thankful for that. Very much appreciate your openness, honesty, and vulnerability 🙏🏻✌🏻
Patrick Volker
You are such a good writer. Thank you for sharing this, it means a lot!
SQ
What a special gift for you to share this with us. Good luck on your journey. You are such a talent and this world needs all of you. Thanks for sharing and for doing this for yourself and others.
Erick
Stay strong!
Inconspicuous Koala
Thank you for sharing Kenji ❤️
Melanie Wang
Wishing you the best on this journey Kenji ❤️ Setbacks are normal and I hope you pull through each time
Kati Parker
Thank you for sharing your story! It is a very brave and STRONG thing to go through with ending alcohol (or other substance) dependence. And not everyone is able to. Your story will help a lot of people see there is hope :)
jodie webb
You are so brave. Your letter was beautiful. We've shared a few similar experiences and this one is no exception. Learning to live differently is difficult and rewarding. You'll stumble some more and get better at recovering each time as long as you keep being honest with yourself. Your community is here to support you! YITB
Gregory Kantor
Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing this story, Kenji - you are an inspiration to many, in and out of the kitchen.
Dave Belding
Thanks for sharing and being vulnerable!
Meandering Fox
Thanks for sharing, Kenji. I'm in a similar situation and hope I can take that step to get help to stop using alcohol and marijuana as a crutch. You're inspiring beyond the kitchen (and lab). Much love from this internet stranger. Be well!
Eddie Ackerman
The shame and fear that come with addiction are no joke. The alcohol only piles on to that shame and fear, deepening and reinforcing our worst thoughts about ourselves. Thank you for sharing this, Kenji. May I be as strong as you are.
Charles Henrich
Kenji, I don't know if you read these things, or will see this, but I will suggest that you consider trying one of the new semiglutide drugs. I have been taking Eli Lilly's Zepbound for >1 year now. Within a few weeks of starting, a very unexpected side effect was that I had literally zero interest in drinking. I went from 1 to many glasses of wine a day, to 1 or 2 a month. I distinctly recall standing in my kitchen one evening with all the triggers present thinking "I could have a margarita right now. I should want one. I can get it, its right there. Do you want it?" and as this was going through my head, the most amazing answer was, no. No I didn't. I had no urge. It was and has been life altering, not just from the calorie reductions. Good luck on your Journey sir, and thank you for all you have done and do for the world!
Collin Buelo
Thanks for sharing Kenji, and best of luck as you continue on your journey.
Tom Phipps
Really appreciate the bravery and honesty it takes to talk about this stuff, and thankyou for sharing. I've been in recovery for almost 3 years myself, and it's the best thing I ever did! Big love Kenji ❤️
Jeremy Bell
Wow I’m only halfway through but the fact that I stumbled on this right after you posted feels important. I’ve been actively binge drinking for most of my 20s and it’s starting to feel like it’ll never end if I don’t stop before my 30s. Thank you for sharing Kenji <3
Chris Horn
It takes guts to be this vulnerable in a public forum. Way to be a role model
Ayat Soufan
Thank you for sharing ❤️
