Transforming Travel: How Sober Adventures Helped Lauren Rediscover Life
Lauren Burnison faced a turning point in her life when she began to experience blackouts and physical pain due to her drinking. Realizing she needed to change, she decided to spend a weekend without alcohol. This led her to discover a passion for adventure travel, which became a positive distraction during her sobriety journey.
Originally from Antrim, Lauren had been living in South Korea while teaching English when her alcohol issues peaked in 2015. She reflected on her earlier years, noting her introduction to drugs and alcohol during a church trip to South America. Her travels often turned into parties, but once sober, she found that adventure travel provided the freedom she had sought through substances.
Lauren embraced outdoor activities, biking along the coast of South Korea and participating in a series of adventures worldwide, including riding across the Mongolian Steppe and backpacking through Siberia. These activities became possible once she was not hindered by hangovers or financial constraints linked to her past alcohol use.
Motivated by her experiences, she launched her company, We Love Lucid, which organizes sober adventure trips. These trips cater to those who have been sober for several years, typically in their thirties to fifties. Each travel experience includes group activities that are engaging and enjoyable without alcohol.
What are some benefits of sober adventure travel?
Interview with Lauren Burnison: Transforming Sobriety into Adventure Travel
Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Lauren. Your journey is incredibly inspiring. Can you share the moment you realized your drinking was negatively impacting your life?
Lauren Burnison: Absolutely. It all culminated for me in 2015 while I was teaching English in South Korea. I started experiencing blackouts and physical pain, which were major wake-up calls. I had a pivotal moment when I decided to take a weekend off from alcohol. During that time, I realized how much I had been using drinking as a crutch.
Interviewer: That sounds like a significant turning point. What led you from that decision to discovering your passion for adventure travel?
Lauren Burnison: Once I stopped drinking, I needed something to fill that void. I remembered my love for travel, which began early on, albeit often intertwined with parties. Once I embraced sobriety, it opened up a world of possibilities. Through outdoor activities, like biking along the coast and adventurous trips abroad, I found a new sense of freedom that substances had never given me.
Interviewer: Your travels sound exhilarating! Can you share some highlights of your adventures since you began your sobriety journey?
Lauren Burnison: Sure! I’ve had the chance to ride across the Mongolian Steppe and backpack through Siberia. These experiences were profoundly enriching because I could fully engage with my surroundings without the fog of hangovers. Every adventure became a chance to build meaningful connections with others and with nature.
Interviewer: This led you to create your company, We Love Lucid. What inspired you to focus on sober adventure trips?
Lauren Burnison: My personal journey motivated me to help others. I saw a gap in the travel market for people who wanted to experience the joy of adventure without alcohol. At We Love Lucid, we curate trips for those usually in their thirties to fifties who have been sober for a while. We focus on activities that foster connections and joy, like moonlight kayaking and cheese-making.
Interviewer: It’s fascinating how you’ve turned your challenges into opportunities for others. What message do you hope to convey about sober travel through your company?
Lauren Burnison: I want to shift the narrative around sober travel. Instead of viewing it as missing out, I encourage travelers to embrace the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO). Those engaging in sober activities can create wonderful memories and experiences that are rich and fulfilling, all without the need for alcohol.
Interviewer: That’s a refreshing perspective! What can we expect from We Love Lucid in the future?
Lauren Burnison: We have exciting trips planned in the Balkans and along the Camino de Santiago. Each experience is designed to be engaging and fun, proving that you can have a fantastic time while remaining sober.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing your journey and insights, Lauren. For those interested in exploring your travel experiences, where can they find more information?
Lauren Burnison: They can visit the We Love Lucid website for more details on our upcoming trips and to learn more about our mission to promote sober adventure travel.
Interviewer: Thank you again, Lauren. Your story is a testament to resilience and transformation. We look forward to seeing where your adventures take you next!
Activities from past trips include moonlight kayaking and cheese-making, with future trips planned in the Balkans and along the Camino de Santiago. Lauren aims to shift the perception of travel without alcohol by encouraging travelers to build joyful memories that do not involve drinking. She emphasizes that as people engage in sober activities, they experience a transformation from Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) to the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO).
For more information about Lauren’s sober travel experiences, visit the We Love Lucid website.