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Fredrik Eklund Celebrates 3 Years Without Alcohol Amid Family & Career Updates: “So Much Gratitude"
The MDLNY andMDLLA alum reflected on his sobriety journey in a heartfelt post about his family and faith and recently shared an update on his career and life in Miami.
Fredrik Eklund has reached a huge milestone.
While adapting to his new life in Miami, the Million Dollar Listing New York and Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles alum took some time to celebrate three years of sobriety. Fredrik reflected on his journey in an October 15 Instagram post, which featured a photo of him lying next to his 5-year-old daughter, Milla, and 5-year-old son, Freddy Jr., whom he shares with his husband, Derek Kaplan. He also included a 40-year-old childhood photo that showed him and his family in a similar pose.
“I woke up today celebrating 3 years without alcohol. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it with so much craziness going on in the world right now, no party or cake this time,” he began before describing the details of his morning. “I just took the dog down to the beach in the sunrise and the ocean was oddly calm. Everything was weirdly quiet. I felt so much gratitude in my heart it was about to burst, not only about the 1095 days but how far I’ve come all the way from Sweden and what/who I had to thank for that.”
Fredrik Eklund opens up about his faith
Fredrik said the calmness immediately disappeared once his children woke up and began their Sunday morning activities.
“[B]reakfast erupted with cereal flying everywhere and we let them watch tv in our bed for once,” he wrote. “Milla wanted to stay home and rollerblade with Daddy, and I took Freddy to church.”
The real estate mogul then shed some light on his spiritual evolution and recalled a conversation he had with his little boy. Fredrik told Freddy Jr. he didn’t grow up in a religious household as his parents didn't believe in God, and it was only recently he began “searching for meaning and purpose beyond this world.” He also noted that this shift began around the time he became a father.
“Freddy said ‘Dada, are you crazy, of course there is a God because the world is so beautiful,’” he wrote, “and it reminded me how pure he is and how it’s my job to keep him like that for as long as I can.”
Fredrik Eklund offers advice for those looking to quit alcohol
He continued: “People often ask me how I can juggle it all: career, kids, traveling, marriage, friendships etc and my answer is always I have no idea lol I think I’m able to do it somehow because I don’t drink alcohol.”
Fredrik proceeded to thank everyone who has supported him over the years and then shared some encouraging words for those who've considered reducing their alcohol intake or giving it up completely.
“[J]ust start with today. Before you know it your life will be lighter, brighter and happier, and with more success,” he said. “Take it from me. There’s a sober revolution happening right now with more and more people realizing how freeing it is to just stop and how cool it is to say no.”
Fredrik Eklund's Sobriety Journey
Fredrik opened up about his sobriety in early 2021, nearly 80 days after gave up alcohol. He admitted that the change was far from easy, but hugely beneficial to his lifestyle.
“It was simply time to stop, actually overdue, and if you know me well you know it’s been the one and only thing that’s given me extra weight as a father, business man and health-nut for way too long,” he explained. “I’m not going to oversell you on it but it is night and day. This morning I started 2021 in the most beautiful sunrise with a clear mind and body. And hopefully every morning for the rest of my life, a life that’s more rewarding without it.”
Fredrik Eklund's Life in Miami with His Family
Fredrik also recently shared an update on his family's new life in Miami after they moved to Florida earlier this year.
"Last night the family celebrated one month in Miami! Our lives have changed in unexpected ways and I wanted to share the highlights. Every morning we take Cash out to run on the beach before the sunrise, and the kids have to say one thing they are grateful for (they also don’t let me off the hook!). Then there’s chaos to get them(selves) dressed in their little uniforms and brush teeth/hair in time, teaching them about the importance of time has been a challenge to be honest lol…. ‘This is REAL school, kids!’ On that note Big D[erek] and I got to visit the classroom the other night and sat in their tiny chairs and their tiny desks, looking at their tiny little drawings and first written sentences in the school assignment called 'Weekend News!' It made me tear up. Being a parent is overwhelming in a lot of ways, and it happens so fast that sometimes I’m unable to see the greater picture, and how well we probably are doing after all. We’re our own worst critics right? I remind myself that we have one shot at this, and there is no return to these formative light years. After school the kids have tennis, chess and sailing classes, activities I never had a chance to do as a kid and I can already see the many new friendships formed," eh wrote. "At night we usually eat outside in the tropic humidity (Miami’s restaurant-scene is incredible and endless) and watch the sunsets from the beach again, and then Big D for the first time allow Cash to get up in the kids beds to kiss them goodnight. Anyway, for Dada a big thing living in Miami is the excitement of new developments on the sand here, and currently we’re working on a slew of new projects coming in the next years worth over $6B, and I feel like I’ve regaining a bit of my old identity as a new dev master here to help change the skyline just like I’ve done in NYC for two decades. Next week I’ll be in NY working and then D and the kids will meet me up in Connecticut for the weekend and I can’t wait to show you the renovations of the house there. I hope you’re enjoying these early days of Fall wherever you are - and remember what Milla always tells me: Dada, I love where we are because we’re together and that’s all that matters."
Fredik Eklund's Career Today in Real Estate and Beyond
Fredrik has also shared a number of real estate deals and projects on his plate these days, including a "new website and worlds first AI personality MAYA" which is focused on the real estate space.
In an interview with THR, Fredrik shared, “Maya works around the clock, never sleeps, is helpful and friendly, makes real estate buying and selling fun, never forgets anything, and at the same time learns every time anyone is talking to her.”
