What we get wrong about sobriety. 

Just want to be clear that I don’t judge anyone that drinks or smokes or whatever else. It just wasn’t working for me. I made this hoping maybe it helps someone to know you can decide to quit for small reasons and still be super happy and fulfilled.

I’ve been thinking of sobriety so much lately. And I needed this. This is such a specific way of thinking about sobriety I think, and it really hit home. Thanks for sharing 🖤🖤

RESPECT Shaffer, sounds like a fantastic choice! I’ve thought of doing this many times. Kudos to you for recognizing all of this and then putting it out there for others.

Jeez, man! This video is just so authentic 😃 I always love hearing the different stories that people share in regards to sobriety and abstinance, as it really is a big part of my life, too 😁 Keep it up!

This is huge! I’m a little over 4 years sober and it has changed my life. Sobriety looks good on you Shaffer and it’s cool to not need to use alcohol or drugs as a creative crutch. Keep making awesome videos buddy! I’m a big fan of your content.

Hey! Congrats on the sincerity, really appreciated! I agree with all your points about why it's good to be sober and between us, it'd be nice if it weren't such a big deal for people who drinks ;) Thanks for the video and looking forward to the next one!

One day my mother asked me to come over to her house I should have known that she was drinking Because she was slurring her words and I didn't catch it so I went over to see her and she was so Very drunk that she was going around the house knocking things over and finally coming to rest as If dead next to the sliding glass door. I called 911 And waited for them to arrive, once they got there they came in and my mother revived a little to talk to them from her bedroom and the first thing she said was: it's my son it's all his fault he's my main problem in life. I tell you, Shaffer Alcohol is a very Terrible thing but the desicions we make are worse and alcohol only brings those problems out in the Worst Way possible. I have never forget that event at my mother's house. Nor will I. Good work getting sober because you have done yourself & others a huge favor.

🤘🖤 you’re the man Shaf

Good for you. Smoking and drinking are expensive - both monetary and health costs. Personally, I don't smoke and rarely drink alcohol (like one or two drinks per month at the max, on special occasions). I don't miss it when I don't drink. I never got drunk, but it's not fun to be the only sober person. But I have no regrets. And cannabis is the same. You can live life in a haze and not recall the details.

Damn. Just told my wife I wanted to take a break from drinking. Perfect video for where I am at. I drink a lot while editing at night. Typically edit after a hard day at work, and that is when I edit.

Just found your channel and I really enjoy your videos! I am struggling with sobriety at the moment. This helps! So I thank you. You got yourself a sub!

Good stuff man. Had a beer while watching this.. gonna try to make that my last.. at least for a while. See how that goes. Been drink since I was about 10.. Def have a problem.. I didn't get to crazy with it anymore but when I think back it's really been nothing but trouble. I think now it's just hard imagining my life without it. Like when I think about hanging out with friends.. it always involves drinking.. and the few friends I do have that are sober are always pretty awkward.. at least it seems that way to me haha.

I had to quit alcohol and carbs and all kinds of sugar because of digestive problems. People around me give me opinions such as, that sounds boring you quit all the good things. I even had to give up the vegetarian lifestyle I had for 10 years. I haven´t been sober as long as you, and drinking has never been a problem so I feel like I´m giving this opinion from a privileged place. I also sympathize with the idea that quitting is extra hard for some people depending on their friends/ family circles and their emotional state. If some person is thriving with big problems, constantly facing anxiety and living in survival mode, drugs can be such a nice escape. I think we have all been there in a bigger or smaller portion of our lives. I like your video and the reason why you quit is that I feel identified somehow. Although I care a lot about my health I can´t help to think about my illustration and paintings. And what people think when they see it. It was often associated with weed or psychedelic drugs. I wish people could learn that drugs are only one of the ways to connect with that peace of mind and extensive space inside each one´s minds/ hearts. To remember they have a pineal gland, a heart and a unique purpose. Last, Peace of mind requires an effort to disconnect with anything that´s external negative, facing traumas and letting go of the past. Or stop reacting to that. Being sober requires a big effort to change, external help, and use of the power of will. I don´t intend to offend or judge anyone with this comment I´m just sharing my experience. Peace☺!

Sobriety saved my life, hands down. 19 years, and completely grateful. Do you, cause the you I hear is am smart intelligent and vibrant individual. Some people still question and harass me for not drinking. I don't care how they feel, it saved me.

That was awesome man. Really inspiring to hear your take on this. Thanks for sharing!

Good for you!!!! Very wise choice!

Hi Shaffer, second video I watch of yours. I obviously don't know much about you but I relate to what you said in the video and my conscience is telling me to let you know, that I believe your video is to be the tipping point of my chapter by making the decision to quit drugs (weed, alcohol, or any kind of psychoactive substance). I support you and I admire you, you seem like a genuine person. The meaning of this message to me is that this post is a commitment treaty and i'm letting everyone know! I'll come back in one week.

Loved this and the fact you are beyond the usual fare of society of drinking and drugs and stuff like that. We need more like this in the world and less just following the (foggy, repetitive, easy to control) pack...

En vänlig grönskas rika dräkt, har smyckat dal och ängar. The first song is a swedish hymn, quite beautiful. I went down the road a bit, it’s not pretty, it’s a hell of a drug. It kinda lures you in without you knowing. But, I was lucky not being far gone so, it’s stopping that’s the deal, not the act of. It sooo worth it, man I can channel my energy into good stuff and feel that I control myself. I feel with you so clearly.

I appreciate your nuanced take on this topic. Totally agree with you on the “not wanting to water down your creativity. It’s always felt like using a cheat code or steroids or something along those lines

Great message, thank you for sharing. Booze is such a big part of many cultures and rituals. Keep up the great work.

ok i'm 73 years old and i so wish you were my friend and we could hang out. maybe this RU-vid thing is a decent second best. just found you yesterday and so far have looked at everything you have posted since this January gem. you are so consistently thoughtful, creative and unique. what a treat. carry on!

You make awesome videos! I love them! Although the beginning of this one was super chaotic and a liiiiitle bit irritating :) Sorry! Wish you best

I was taking speed when I started reading the bible after I found out that Jesus was real and the speed helped me to stay awake for three days at a time and I started to see biblical pictures in cement bridges. It helped me to get a grounding in the Word that I'm not sure I would have got if I was half asleep at the time. I would also do artwork that had prophetic meaning and my friend and I was drawing the same scripture at the same time in different rooms without knowing that we each was drawing a different interpretation of the same scripture. The Queen of the South will rise in the judgment with this generation for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom and now one greater than he is hear. I did a picture of a woman's head with an Eagle on her head and the wind and waves over one shoulder and a hurricane over the other with the Lord's prayer in one corner and the world in the other and she was looking towards the Lord's prayer in anger because she was angry at the world. She also had a cloak on and I drew a circle to represent a clasp that holds her cloak together and when I showed my friend she went and found a little mirror that perfectly fitted the round circle I had hand drawn. Because I spent so much time in the bible I was getting filled with Holy Spirit and I became aware of the demonic because the Holy Spirit was exposing them. As I read my bible I felt things bumping around me and knew that demons were real and then I saw Jesus in the room with me and he was very humble and gentle. Several months later I had been drinking and sharing with people on a bus that Jesus is alive and when I got off the bus I missed the last bus home. I knew a homeless man who had made up a bed behind some shops so I decided to go and pay him a visit but he wasn't there. I decided to get in his bed which was really clean and cosy and asked God to tell the man not to come back that night so I wouldn't have to share with him. Then I looked at the stars and proclaimed "I love you Jesus" and went to sleep. At some point in the night I felt someone kiss my cheek and it was so beautiful but I thought the man had come back and I would have to share but he hadn't come back. So, it must have been Jesus who kissed me. When the man came back in the morning he told me he was at his friend's house and about to leave when he suddenly decided to sit back down and stay and that this had been the first night he hadn't gone back to his bed and I knew God had impressed on him to stay where he was.

The only thing I like to drink now is gin and tonic or vodka and tonic just to get mellow and then just occasionally. I don't like wine it leaves me feeling dehydrated and hungover. I did some research on what is the best alcohol to not feel hungover when I was feeling a bit deprived and the consensus was vodka.

Only just yesterday discovered this gem of a channel you've got. Inspiring! Recently made the decision to limit my drinking to two glasses and only on special occasions (like once a month, at the most), for reasons similar to yours. I had this thought yesterday, you might call it an insight of sorts: I've never been as happy as when adventuring and playing as a kid; and in a sense, alcohol replaced playfulness as a mode of being in the world. It's a terrible, soul deadening substitute for the playful joy of childhood, which I hope to rediscover henceforth! How has life transpired in the years since this video, btw? Greetings from Sweden!

After a year of sobriety from alcohol, I feel this whole video. I just one day decided that I'm good... I don't NEED to drink, or even want to at this time. Will I in the future? Perhaps. It's not a crutch to me, and I have no trouble just cold turkey a lot of stuff. Before I quit drinking, I hadn't smoked weed in a year and a half. Do I again? Sure. Will I quit again? Perhaps. It's nice to see this video as a reminder that it's okay to be the only "sober" one in the group, and at least knowing I'm being authentically myself without the use of substances. (Most of the time)

Very intentionsl decision. Dude you are living a more intentional life. Uh oh…

Wish I would have heard something like this 40 yrs ago

Appreciate the share Shaffer. Love the content as always.

Yeessssss! Even as a veteran I never had a problem but wanted to be a role model and present for my family! 10 years sober and will never turn back. Keep it up!

Well said! Your message may be your path!!

I came across this video purely on accident but the title caught my eye because this is a topic that has been in the back of my mind for the last year or so. Your perspective on the situation resonated so hard with me that I finally decided to go for it and live a sober life. I do not struggle with addiction like you said and I do not judge others for it. From one stranger to another, thank you. You really did touch my soul and inspire me pretty heavily. I appreciate you brotha.

I’m 77. I am so enjoying watching/listening to you grow. At this rate, think who you’ll be at 77! Happy journey!

Love this shaff!! So proud of you and all the incredible things you do :)

This is awesome, man! Appreciate your opinion and the work you put into this video.

Virginity > Sobriety…. Much love my man! Congrats on this epic feat. Support all and anything you put your mind to!!!

I love your videos so much man and I was really with you at the beginning here - I recently quit drinking daily, it's been about a year. I bought beer to boil brats early in september and there is still a bottle in the fridge, turning sour - it's been a massive improvement to my life for many of the same reasons as you - I can only control myself and I only get to experience this one life. I don't want to miss chunks of it. Sadly, the second point - someone's creativity being changed by their environment diminishes in no way the achievement of that creativity. Saying "well, they couldn't have done it without LSD" is just sour grapes. Fuck that shit. Changing your own choices because you're worried what some snot nosed brat will say generations later is a quick way to an unhappy life. Secondly, and arguably more importantly, addiction is a medical condition that requires medical treatment and this kind of advice (mostly targeted at non-addicts to be fair) can lead people to forget that, leading to massive failures in empathy for these people who are being refused medical treatment and being shoveled into for profit prisons. It's literally modern institutionalism. Addiction is **not** just a failure of willpower, it is a biomechanical process that can't just be "pushed" through. It's great this worked for you, but it might be a good idea to put links to real sobriety resources for addicts and ideally, mention that in the video (I know that's hard, given it's already up)

Thank you

Man, this is such a great video! Thank you for the heartfelt communication with the camera. You are 100% right on with your assessment of the situation and I wish you continued strength to maintain your decision. I have had my struggles with substance abuse and alcohol and came to the same conclusion as you. Keep being awesome!

All really good points. The point you make starting at 4:33 really resonates with me (it's a long-ish story but I'm be happy to share it sometime). I'm 58, I got a little farther down the road than you did. I quit drinking almost three years ago. It was difficult...still is some days. Everything you say here is spot on. I wish I had quit when I was young. It would have made an enormous difference in my life. Stay with it.

Interesting, I've seen some creators and friends quit alcohol but not for the same reasons. Also nice you didn't talk how much better you feel physically (which usually is a point people make I feel)

Ayeeeee great video man! I stopped drinking recreationally a few months ago. But that's mostly because i learned I was allergic to alcohol and it become cancer in me. But its a great time without it!

Really good stuff bro. Love your creativity - especially love that its yours bro, purely you!

Truly awesome words. Keep the videos coming, love it!

Appreciate you. Appreciate this. Love your genuineness.

Love you, bro. Always so well spoken.

Dude I need this, thank you!

i think sobriety is over-rated