Ep: 141: Sober Curious & Choosing A Life With No Kids; Ruby Warrington

Diary of An Empath by Keresse Thompson, LCSW - A podcast by Keresse Thompson - Mondays

Ruby Warrington, author and editor, discusses her work on sobriety and challenging societal norms. She coined the term 'sober curious' and explores the impact of alcohol on mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Warrington also delves into her book 'Women Without Kids,' which challenges stereotypes and celebrates autonomy. She shares her unconventional childhood and how it influenced her work. The conversation highlights the importance of questioning conditioning and living an authentic life. Ruby shares her personal journey of choosing her marriage over having children. She discusses the impact of her parents' separation on her view of marriage and the dynamics of relationships when children are involved. Ruby emphasizes the importance of stability and prioritizing her relationship with her husband. She also explores her low tolerance for stress and how she believes having children would have caused a significant shift in their relationship. Ruby challenges societal expectations and stereotypes around motherhood and highlights the need for individual autonomy and agency. Takeaways Questioning our relationship with alcohol and exploring sobriety can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our well-being. Living an authentic life requires challenging societal conditioning and expectations. The term 'sober curious' has sparked a global movement, empowering individuals to make conscious choices about their drinking habits. The book 'Women Without Kids' challenges stereotypes and celebrates autonomy, offering a different perspective on motherhood and societal expectations. Unconventional childhood experiences can shape our beliefs and values, influencing the work we do and the paths we choose. Choosing a marriage over having children is a personal decision influenced by individual experiences and values. The arrival of a child can change the dynamics of a relationship, and some couples thrive while others experience challenges. Low tolerance for stress and a desire to prioritize the marriage can be reasons for choosing not to have children. Societal expectations and stereotypes around motherhood can lead to judgment and criticism, but it's important to prioritize individual happiness and well-being. Having honest conversations and cultivating awareness of our own judgments and prejudices can contribute to dismantling societal conditioning and promoting understanding and acceptance. Chapters 00:00Introduction and Background 05:15Exploring Sobriety and Challenging Conditioning 13:01The Sober Curious Movement: Empowering Conscious Choices 23:30The Influence of Unconventional Childhood on Work and Identity 27:22The Impact of Parental Separation on Views of Marriage 29:23Prioritizing Stability and Relationship Dynamics 32:00Low Tolerance for Stress and the Decision to Not Have Children 34:22Challenging Societal Expectations and Stereotypes Around Motherhood 46:29Promoting Understanding and Acceptance through Honest Conversations Follow me on Instagram! https://instagram.com/_keresse_?utm_medium=copy_link Follow me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/TherapeuticHealingByReese/