Sundays Without the Hangover: A Clear-Headed Game of Disc Golf Before Kickoff

Sundays used to be my least favorite day of the week. And not because of what the world calls “Sunday Scaries,” but because I’d wake up in survival mode. Hungover. Groggy. Piecing together what happened the night before.

I didn’t really live my Sundays—I endured them.

But today? Today was different. Today I woke up without the fog, without the shame, without the pounding headache that used to be my alarm clock. I woke up clear. Present. Excited for the day.

And instead of dragging myself from bed to couch, I laced up my sneakers, grabbed a tea, and went to play disc golf with my boyfriend before hurrying back to catch the 49ers game.

A Different Kind of Sunday

Here’s the thing: disc golf isn’t an every-weekend thing for us. It’s more like a once-in-a-while adventure. But when we do go, it’s always a good time. And today, it was even better.

Because this time, I wasn’t sneaking alcohol into my tumbler “to get through.” I wasn’t half-playing the game, half-managing a buzz. I wasn’t fighting off nausea or telling myself a drink would make me feel “normal.”

I was just… there.

The sky was wide open. The air felt crisp. The course stretched out in front of us, and I actually had the energy to enjoy it. And the whole time, in the back of my head, I knew—this feels so different sober.

Flashback: Playing Through the Fog

Of course, I couldn’t help but think back to the way it used to be.

Back then, heading out to play disc golf wasn’t just about the discs and the baskets. It was about what I was hiding in my cup. A splash of whiskey in my iced tea. A hard seltzer disguised as water. Something—anything—to make the day “easier.”

I thought I needed it to loosen up. To have fun. To laugh and play.

But if I’m being honest, all it really did was dull the whole thing. The game wasn’t as fun as I thought it was.  My patience was short. I was more focused on when I could sneak another sip than on the actual game.

And when the buzz wore off? The irritability crept in. The exhaustion. The shame. By the time we got home, I was drained in every sense of the word.

Today Felt Different

But today? No sneaking. No fog. No shame. Just me, fully present.

I noticed the way the sunlight broke through the trees, the sound of the chains clanging when a disc actually made it in the basket. I noticed how much I laughed—not a fake, alcohol-fueled laugh, but a real one. The kind that bubbles up out of nowhere and stays with you.

And I noticed my boyfriend. The way he teased me for overshooting (again), the way he grinned when he nailed a perfect throw. I felt connected—to him, to the course, to myself.

And that connection? That’s the thing I’d been chasing with alcohol all those years. But today, I realized I didn’t need anything in my cup to feel it.

The Football Factor

We sure ran right through the course, though. Because as much as disc golf was the vibe this morning, Sundays are really about one thing in our house: football.

49ers football.

So we left early, headed back, and by the time we got home, I felt energized instead of wiped out. Clear instead of cloudy. Ready to throw on a jersey, make some snacks, and get ready for kickoff.

And that’s the beauty of it: I didn’t need hours of recovery before I could enjoy the game. I didn’t need greasy food and Gatorade to pull me back to life. I was already here. Fully alive. Fully present.

The Contrast is Wild

If you’ve ever lived both sides of this, you know what I mean. The difference is night and day.

Then:

• Waking up groggy, head pounding, stomach in knots.

• Dragging myself out of bed, wondering if I could even make it through the day.

• Sneaking alcohol just to “even out” or keep a buzz going.

• Going through the motions, pretending to have fun while feeling disconnected inside.

• Collapsing on the couch, drained, barely present for the game.

Now:

• Waking up rested, excited for the day.

• Actually enjoying an early game of disc golf without needing “help.”

• Laughing freely, throwing better, remembering the moments.

• Feeling proud instead of ashamed.

• Coming home energized, ready for football, snacks, and actual relaxation.

The difference isn’t subtle—it’s massive.

Sobriety Gives Sundays Back

What hit me today is this: sobriety gives Sundays back.

Instead of wasting the morning recovering from Saturday night, I got to actually live it. Instead of sneaking alcohol to “get through” the day, I had a blast without a fog in my brain. Instead of being drained and checked out before kickoff, I was alive, ready, and in the moment.

And maybe most importantly—I didn’t have to fake anything.

I didn’t have to fake energy. Fake laughter. Fake joy. Everything I felt today was real. And that’s a gift alcohol never gave me.

It Was Never About the Cup

The wildest part? I used to think the alcohol was what made the game fun. That it was what made me laugh, made me loosen up, made the day bearable.

But today reminded me—it was never about the cup. It was never about the buzz. The joy was always there. The connection was always there. The fun was always there. I just couldn’t see it through the haze.

Football + Freedom

By the time the 49ers kicked off, I was already winning.

Because the truth is, sobriety makes space—for football, for disc golf, for laughter, for love, for Sundays that actually feel like Sundays.

I don’t have to sacrifice half my day to recovery. I don’t have to sneak, hide, or numb. I get to show up. For the game. For my boyfriend. For myself.

And honestly? That’s better than any touchdown.

Final Thoughts

Today, I realized how far I’ve come. From sneaking alcohol in my cup just to make it through a round of disc golf… to waking up sober, laughing my way through the course, and coming home energized for kickoff.

From surviving Sundays to savoring them.

Sobriety didn’t take the fun away—it gave it back. It gave me mornings without regret, afternoons full of laughter, and evenings where I can actually be present for the things I love.

So here’s to Sundays without the hangover. To sunny days that don't need a buzz. To football games you actually remember. To waking up grateful, clear, and ready for the day.

Because at the end of it all, it’s not the drink in your cup that makes life good—it’s the way you show up for it.

And today? I showed up. 

Keep rising, always 🌹☍💥