Elmo… walks into a bar?

“Elmo experiences a dark night of the soul” by Alexandra Petri

I read this article in the Washington Post and absolutely loved it. …but then tears welled up in my eyes. 😢

If you haven’t heard about Elmo’s accidental therapy sesh with the world: the Sesame Street character sent out an innocent question on Twitter and thousands of people answered… honestly.

Their responses echoed what I’ve been hearing out here—it’s like this reverberating sense of “We are not ok.”

I *loved* the sweet humor this article brought to the story, but after reading it, I thought: “Ah, you see? It’s no wonder we turn to alcohol for comfort when we’re feeling lost. 

A societal trope so pervasive that even Elmo—a children’s puppet who is, in essence, a child—orders a strong drink after a hard day.

Now, Petri’s twist on a “strong drink” is delightful. ☺️ Her bartender hands the downtrodden puppet a lemonade wearing a sweatband, flexing biceps. …and it made me think:

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED! 🙌
…to re-imagine.

How wonderful would it be if—when we’re feeling sad, or lost, or stressed—we could walk into a bar and ask for what we really need: Connection. A kind smile. A safe space to sit with our thoughts while nibbling something delicious.

…sipping a beverage to suit our taste that’s cool and refreshing… maybe even crafted with adaptogenic herbs to soothe our nerves or give us a boost of energy before heading home to cook dinner, manage laundry, homework, chores… whatever.

Something warm with reishi extract to help us get a good night’s sleep… 

Something that *wasn’t* damaging to our health, addictive, and laced with poison.

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I used to love going to bars. Hell, I loved *working* in bars. And it had just as much to do with the people, the atmosphere, the vibe—as it did with the drinks. (Though, don’t get me wrong, I was all about the drinks back then. 😅)

To this day, I still love going out to a dimly lit bar and feeling swept into the clattering din of conversation and laughter… watching the servers swish by, navigating the room in a practiced dodging dance… sipping on something [non-alcoholic and] delicious.

I feel *so lucky* that Portland is ahead of the curve in the NA space. Most bars here have a decent zero proof option, if not a fully developed craft mocktail list. 🎩
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Instead of feeling sad that this adorable article may reinforce a [harmful] cultural stereotype, I’ve decided to hope, instead, that others will focus on that little, flexing plot-twist, like I did… 💪🍋

That maybe a few bartenders will find inspiration for their next, refreshing mocktail.

And that those out there, bellied up to the bar—like me—might consider redefining what they consider a “strong drink” and ask themselves:

What could I order that would give me what I *actually need* right now?

👆 Just asking that one question “What do I need?” can help us heal.

Sending love out to you all today. 💌
To all my sober-curious and sober-serious. To all my bartenders and baristas. And especially to anyone staring into the void alongside me & Elmo.

Xo

Have you gotten your copy of my 3 Steps to Drink Less?
💌 Get your free guide today!

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Article: @postopinions

Admiration & respect: @thisusernameisterrible

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