How to stay sober in 2026

Hello, fellow thinker!

Since my last letter, three things have happened: I started a new job. I discovered that I’m balding and that one of my legs is starting to look crooked. The last two are just part of the wonderful things aging brings. But as my wife always reminds me, getting older is a privilege. I hope you are also aging gracefully.

Please enjoy my letter on - How to stay sober in 2026!

Sometimes the world seems like it’s on fire. And there are places where it actually is. People are dying of unnatural causes and relationships are tearing apart. It seems like people don’t have as much fun as they used to with each other, and it’s getting harder to make new friends. Living is getting more expensive, work is harder to come by, and technology is taking the human element out of the equation.

Meanwhile, there are those who are flourishing! The stock market is making millionaires out of ordinary people. They buy homes, throw tons of cash into renovations, drive fancy cars, and go on lavish vacations.

Then there is the middle. That quiet stillness where peace sounds like a slight ringing in the ears from years of blasting music. That sense of not knowing whether to start something new or to keep doing more of what you already did. The world is rich with experiences, good and bad.

Whether you're suffering, thriving, or sitting still, the urge to pacify internal longing appears in many of us. You could want a drink in each of those states, and inside, it doesn’t matter what is happening in the outside world. The stimulation can amplify, pacify, or revive emotion, courage, or relaxation. But for those of us who have chosen a life of sobriety, we have to fend for ourselves. We cannot succumb to forces of our internal dialogue that tell us it's ok to have a drink. That voice that tells us we can handle it, or we deserve it. We have to find a way around it. We have to face the world naked, scared, and head-on.

This is the life we chose. The urge to break and take the easy way creeps up every now and then, when you least expect it—or sometimes, when you do expect it. Years of practice taught me to handle those urges through habits, systems, and plans we make for those situations. When I think about having a drink, I remind myself of this maxim:

It’s better to want it but not have it, than to have it and regret it. - This is how to stay sober in 2026.

This seems to work for me. The thought of regret overpowers any urges to make the boredom go away. I want a life with no regrets. I want a life with no jealousy. I want a life where I’m in control. Because when I’m in control, I can do things.

This year, instead of getting drunk and feeling crummy, I plan to grow. I started a new job which requires intense focus and discipline. I want to improve my flexibility, which requires me to wake up at 6am and stretch every morning because my legs are getting stiff and crooked with age. I’m working on a side-hustle as a passion project, using the latest AI tech to "vibe code" an app that I think people will love! I also need to get my kids set up for amazing futures and, most importantly, I want to be there to see them realize their potential.

I want to be more consistent with writing this letter to you and do so without using AI. I want it to flow from my heart and for you to know it’s authentic. The tradeoff is that I may sound like I’m writing this with crayons, like I've never written before, but I believe people will appreciate it more.

So in 2026, I want to wish for you to be your most authentic self. Do what will make your life better and the lives of those around you richer. Be the best for yourself and the world. We are all in this together and we have to try harder to be there for the greater good.

Happy New Year!

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Keep thinking, my friends!

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