Britt Skrabanek

Is it Time to Take a Break from Alcohol?

Alcohol consumption is a pretty heavy topic and it’s kind of taboo, which is crazy to think about since alcohol has been ingrained in human society for thousands (yes, thousands) of years.

Back in 2016, I decided to openly talk about alcohol in a very public space…right here on my blog. I was terrified to publish a blog about doing a 30-day no alcohol challenge. Would people think I was rolling out of bed in the morning and boozing it up?

I decided to hell with what people think. It’s clear that I am not consuming alcohol on that scale or I wouldn’t be doing all of the things I do—from running my business Superneat Marketing to running my creative businesses, like my blog, my fiction, and now my podcast—Love Your Enthusiasm.

I was surprised to see how supportive everyone was that read that 30-day alcohol break blog…and also how many questions and comments I received from people. So many people were already thinking about taking a break from alcohol and they were relieved that I talked so openly about it.

In December of last year, I published a blog about going 6 months without alcohol and it has been the most popular blog I’ve ever written. Thousands of people have read this blog, and it showing no signs of slowing down.

Was it destined for popularity?
Or did the absolute insanity of 2020 cause an increase in interest as alcohol consumption increased?

I can’t say. But, I do know that it’s important to talk about alcohol and share real-life experiences. I always think the best place to start with changing your life is self-inquiry. Sometimes we just need to stop and ask ourselves a tough question, like: Is it time to take a break from something?

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Love Your Enthusiasm with Caitlin Trainor

“Think of this as a time for opportunity and invention.” What a concept when our world seems entirely upside down, when we can’t seem to find our footing no matter what we do. It’s the reason why I continue to pour my heart and energy into my podcast, Love Your Enthusiasm. And the reason why I share conversations from women who are still pushing forward and doing incredible things this year.

Caitlin Trainor is my guest on Love Your Enthusiasm this week. She is a dancer, creative entrepreneur, choreographer, and the founder of Dancio, a platform that offers on-demand ballet and contemporary classes.

There has been such a need for a platform like Dancio. When I discovered Dancio last year, I was searching for a way to supplement my once-a-week ballet class with a home class. (There wasn’t shit out there on YouTube, lemme tell ya.) Little did I know that March of 2020 would be my last ballet class for…what’s looking like…the rest of the year.

I’m so thankful to have a platform like Dancio right now—as are dancers in 50+ countries around the world who are also terrifying their pets by kicking and turning in kitchens, hallways, and living rooms.

Caitlin is doing wonderful things for the dance community. She is vibrant, dedicated, and perhaps more of a potty-mouth than I am…who knew that person existed? If this is the time for opportunity and invention, looking to Caitlin for no-bullshit inspiration is a good place to start.

In this episode, Caitlin talks about her passion for changing the world through dance and movement. She covers everything from how she protects her creative enthusiasm to a time she came close to quitting, along with the importance of looking at the view but also looking at the rocks beneath you.

I hope you enjoy this awesome conversation with Caitlin.

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Life Lessons From an 87-Year-Old Lyft Driver

I stepped into the Lyft car and paused mid-air, hovering above the grey upholstered backseat. I had one foot in, one foot out. My driver was a man, well past his golden years. An internal debate struck up, making a legitimate point: Is it safe to ride with this old dude? Or, should I cancel and find a new driver?

I was already late to ballet class—if I got another driver, there was no way I would make it on time. The heavy February drizzle slid off my hood, dampening the interior of the car. It smelled like wet carpet and Old Spice. For some reason, that comforting combo ended the internal debate and I decided to ride with the old dude.

A few awkward wet boot squeaks later, followed by the slam of the door, my ass was parked in the car. “Hu…hi,” I managed to say finally. “I’m Britt.”

He smiled at me in the rearview mirror, with twinkling mischievous blue eyes that very much reminded me of my dad. “Hi, Britt. I’m 87 years old.”

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Love Your Enthusiasm with Katrina Naomi

Writing involves a strange mixture of mystery and magic. What writers do many cannot attempt. Poetry seems to amplify these mysterious and magical qualities. So, what does life as a poet actually look like? Let’s find out from a full-time poet, shall we?

Katrina Naomi is on Love Your Enthusiasm this week. Katrina is an award-winning poet who lives in Cornwall, UK. You’re already picturing her as she is pictured here, wearing a vintage dress with a flower in her hair, whipping up a lovely piece of work at her desk as willowy trees rustle gently outside.

But, Katrina is here to tell you that poetry isn’t all about whimsical scenes and romantic exchanges. Writing poetry is about using your own language, not sounding poetic. It’s a matter of turning up at your desk and just getting on with it. It’s about being yourself and being bold.

Bold is the perfect word to describe Katrina. She swims in the sea every morning, without a wetsuit in 50-degree (plus or minus) choppy waters. And she’s on a mission to demystify poetry and make it more accessible to people from all walks of life.

In this episode, Katrina shares her exploratory nature as a poet, from creative processes and requirements that work well for her to other passions she resorts to when she needs to step away from her poetry and let it breathe. Katrina also shares her perspectives on fear and rejection…and I can happily report that her responses are refreshingly honest and open.

Hope you have a lovely time with Katrina.

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Love Your Enthusiasm with Ra Avis

“The blogging community went to prison with me. They went to my husband’s funeral with me. They physically showed up at my husband’s funeral so I wouldn’t have to be there alone—or with people that didn’t understand or didn’t know him. And when you have something like that in your life, that is a family.”

Because so many of you are engrained in the blogging community, it is highly likely that you already know today’s guest on Love Your Enthusiasm, Ra Avis of Rarasaur.

I’ve followed Ra’s blog for many, many years. Her writing has always been exquisite and electric—and to play off her name—every piece is beautifully and unapologetically raw. I was one of the people in the blogging community who was there in spirit as she went to prison, as she lost her husband of ten years just two months before her release.

Through blogging, we build indescribable connections with one other, even if we are never able to meet up in person for that coffee or that drink. What I appreciate about Ra is her openness about her life, how she shares her stories and experiences to help others understand their struggles and find a way to heal when everything is broken.

In this episode, Ra talks about how the practice of forgiveness has impacted her life, bringing in her perspective as a widow who was formerly incarcerated. Ra has lived through more than many of us will ever experience in our lifetime—or even begin to grasp—yet she continues to approach life with admirable vulnerability and an unstoppable belief in the power of community support and radical love.

Kick back and enjoy this deep, beautiful conversation with Ra.

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