the feeling of waking up *not* hungover after a night out

i've had a couple of stretches of time where I stop drinking, just to see (as @Brigid wisely recommends here!), and the most recent one – which ended up being about 2.5 months – totally changed how much and how often I drink (which is to say: now it's not much, infrequently). the biggest revelation was waking up on new year's day feeling not just normal but good: well-rested, hydrated, peaceful, and also proud of myself for having stayed the course. i had been nervous before about how taking a drinking pause might affect my social life, but it was really sweet to see how much my friends supported it – that new year's, my friend who was hosting bought me a big, really nice bottle of kombucha tea, which was super delicious and even a little fancy-feeling!