Creating Change: An Inspiring Conversation with Lori Massicot
In our conversation with Lori—a life coach, podcaster, and advocate for alcohol-free living—she shares her own journey of transformation and offers powerful advice on how to embrace change with courage and purpose.
MAKING A CHANGE
The most life-changing moment in my life happened on August 11, 2013, when I quit drinking at forty-five. I started drinking at fourteen because I was shy and socially anxious and didn’t want to be. I wanted to be confident in myself at parties and be able to date boys.
For thirty years, I hung onto a story I wrote in 1982 that read: Dear Lori, you will never be anxious or feel shy as long as you drink alcohol. In my twenties, I partied! I drank like everyone else around me and had a great time going out to bars and clubs and traveling with my girlfriends.
I met my husband in 1997 at a bar, and we were married in 1999. We enjoyed drinking together while traveling and having parties at home with our friends and family. Two years after we married, we had our son. I was 33, working in a stressful career in the real estate industry. I felt unhappy in my body, having gained about 30 pounds in my pregnancy, and my anxiety was through the roof!
Drinking in my thirties was different. I wasn’t going out partying it up; I was sitting on my couch watching Lifetime movies numbing myself to try and get some relief from the stress in my life.
As I entered my forties, I felt “off.” My mood was all over the place, I wasn’t sleeping, and I continued to try to get “healthy” by starting a new diet every Monday and exercising.
Lori Massicot
As I entered my forties, I felt “off.” My mood was all over the place, I wasn’t sleeping, and I continued to try to get “healthy” by starting a new diet every Monday and exercising. It wasn’t working; my hangovers lasted for days, making it impossible for me to adopt healthy habits. In 2013, at 45, I was in the thick of perimenopause, drinking heavily and grieving the loss of my sweet mom, Carol, who passed in 2009 from uterine cancer. I knew something had to change, and I had an idea it was my drinking.
Believe me, when I say I did not want to quit drinking. I needed to change my drinking for my future.. I had a vision of myself at 75, which did not include drinking as I had for 30 years.
This year, I celebrated nine years of continuous sobriety. I’m proud of myself, and sometimes I’m shocked that I no longer drink! I’m living proof that you can do hard things and completely change the trajectory of your life.
What was your inspiration for creating your podcast?
My inspiration for the podcast came directly from my experience of quitting drinking while going through perimenopause. I didn’t have women in my life who didn’t drink or were going through peri, which made me feel like I was “different.” I knew there were women out there in midlife and beyond who were worried about their drinking while going through menopause and felt alone.
I believe that going alcohol-free is different for women later in life. We’ve grown up with the drinking culture and the stigma surrounding sobriety. I started with a mission to discuss addiction, aging, menopause, and sobriety. I wanted a place where women could feel supported, understood, and empowered to make change happen.
With your work with mid-life women, what do you see as the biggest struggle?
I work primarily with women in midlife and beyond to help them go alcohol-free. Most of my clients think they can’t quit drinking because it’s too hard, and they will fail. The fear of failure is real in sobriety, but fear is not the struggle.
The struggle is women are not giving themselves enough credit for their ability to do “hard” things. There is self-doubt and a belief these beautiful women have that stops them from starting, which is the hardest part of going alcohol-free – the “start.”
I always encourage my clients to reflect on how many challenges they have overcome in life as a reminder they can do “hard” things. Once women give themselves a chance to change their drinking patterns, they build trust and self-confidence to keep going.
Creating a business in mid-life? What is that like?
It is exciting, terrifying, and something I am beyond grateful I took a chance on!
I started my first business in 2008 when I was laid off from my demanding job in the real estate industry. It was a blessing in disguise, but it also came during the recession when no jobs were available in my industry.
It didn’t take me long to be unemployed and searching for a job before I decided to start a business. I looked to my strengths to find something I was already good at, and the first thing that came to mind was cleaning. I genuinely enjoyed cleaning and organizing and learned that starting a housecleaning business wasn’t that difficult.
I launched a Craigslist ad in 2008 and built a successful business from there. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve cleaned over 100 houses professionally and learned a lot about business in general.
In 2018, I launched the To 50 and Beyond podcast and my sobriety coaching business as a “side” business. I learned everything I could about creating an online business so that I could phase out of cleaning, which happened in 2020. I’ve gotten my Life Coaching and Recovery Certifications and a Nutrition Coaching Certification to help more people and grow my business. I now work full-time coaching from home and couldn’t be happier!
One decision away from a new life…advice for someone craving change in their life?
Just start!
The quote by Karen Lamb comes to mind: “A year from now, you may wish you had started today.“
Remember, the “start” is the hardest part. Once you get past the starting phase, you will move towards the change you want. You will figure things out as you go. And, know that if it doesn’t work out, you can always change your mind. You have the experience, wisdom, and capability to change whatever you choose. I’m rooting for you!
Simple tips someone can incorporate into their daily life that can help them see a significant change?
My first tip is to get clear on what you want to change. You don’t have to change everything in your life all at once because that’s not realistic. Instead, focus on change as self-improvement and identity one area of your life you want to improve upon. For example, adding exercise to your morning routine.
My next tip is to ask yourself why adding exercise to your morning routine matters. For example, “I want to add exercise to my morning routine to improve my flexibility.” Why does improving my flexibility matter? Keep asking “why” until you find what I like to call your “why-power!” Your “why-power” will guide you and motivate you to make the change you want. Take it a step further, write your “why-power” on a post-it note, and stick it on your bathroom mirror as a daily reminder.
My third tip is to start small. You know what they say “change doesn’t happen overnight,” be patient with yourself and practice one small actionable step towards change daily. For example, set a 30-day goal to walk 20-minutes 3x a week.
Lastly, the most important tip of all is to celebrate your progress. You don’t need an outside source to motivate you. Being proud of yourself is all the motivation you need.
More about Lori: Lori Massicot is the Midlife Sobriety Coach and Founder of Team Alcohol-Free. Lori is certified by the International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches (IAPRC) in life and recovery coaching. She is the host of the top-rated To 50 and Beyond podcast. Lori has been sober since 8/11/13 after spending three decades reliant on alcohol. Lori specializes in helping women 35 and over stop drinking and transition to an alcohol-free lifestyle with practicality and lots of love.
*This story was featured in our 2022 Fall magazine.
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