QUICK & EASY INTERVIEW

SEAN ROBINSON

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

I am 38 years old.  A husband and father of 3 kids.  I work as an electrician in the construction industry and have been on a volunteer fire department for a number of years.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE

My wife and I live together with our children in Belleville, Ontario.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

I am busy with my kids, they play lots of sports and we try and do as much as we can with them as a family.  I read and try and run as much as I can.

CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY?

Coming to the end of 2020, and with COVID shutdowns almost encouraging me to drink more alcohol, I was feeling very lost and confused.  Having tried a few things in the past and not having felt much luck, I decided a journal would help me get some thoughts down on paper without causing an argument with my spouse or giving my family the impression that something was wrong.  Journaling was always something that I was led to believe was not for me.  A man is tough, a man doesn’t show weakness and a man doesn’t keep a journal.  Because of this, my journal was a secret.  I was not nice to myself in this journal and I didn’t know what to do.  2021 started and I set a couple of goals for myself, including taking a break from drinking alcohol.  Not knowing how long this break was going to be and how I would do it, I started with “Dry January.”  What eventually led to an entire 2021 (and to this day) I decided that what I went through, a few techniques that I used, and my overall vulnerability was something that I could share for the benefit of helping my former self.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS:

Strong, Vulnerable, Genuine

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

There were times that the examples set for me were not ideal.  There was no way for me to know this when I was younger.  I am inspired to end this and provide a better environment for my family.  To be less irritable, to have more patience, and to be more present, I will achieve this.

SHARE SOMETHING THE AUDIENCE WOULDN’T KNOW.

While the journey started as a break from drinking alcohol in a pursuit of living a more healthy life.  It has snowballed and I have been able to do so much more.  I have lost 100 lbs in the last 2 years as well.  And I have no intention of going back to drinking.

HOW DID I GET INTO WRITING AND DOING THIS WORK?

As mentioned, I decided my journal, my thoughts, and techniques were something that I needed to share for anyone that needs it to encourage them to try and change their life.  It was my realization that this story was not unique.  More people can benefit from my experience.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU AND THE STORY?

Covered above but to add, I had always had an understanding that alcohol was more harmless than I thought.  I felt I was chasing the buzz that I remembered from younger drinking days and I couldn’t find it.  I avoided light beers because I felt like they couldn’t get me drunk enough, I would mix alcoholic drinks together like some kind of scientist and I would drink in abundance.  Something needed to change.  Working construction and on the fire department, which were both very masculine environments, it just emphasized that I needed to be tough and not show weakness by working on my mental health and being that person that journals, listens to podcasts and reads books.  This is so wrong but all that I knew for a very long time.  To show weakness would have brought out various bullying and hazing in response from the people around me.

ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING AT THE PRESENT?

I am continuing to work on myself.  To share this experience with anyone that may be interested and to continue being a better version of myself.  I may write a follow up about my weight loss and where this journey has evolved from the end of last year, I am undecided.

WHAT ARE YOUR  GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS?

To bring my kids up knowing that they can vulnerable and still be strong.  To allow them to grow up and not feel like they need to carry themselves a certain way because of the pressures from others.  And to never stop learning and my own personal development.

WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU?

Website: https://seanrobinson.ca/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCY 67 tZFEb 2 P 051 GhUDW_mQg/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id= 100086376760527

ABOUT SEAN ROBINSON

Sean is a 38 years old, a husband and father of 3 children. He works in the Construction Industry and has been a Volunteer Firefighter for a number of years. Going Dry: My Path to Overcoming Habitual Drinking is his first book.

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