LIFE WITHOUT ALCOHOL is fairly well impossible in the society we live, as every part of our social life or interacting with family and friends seems to be dominated by it.
LIFE WITHOUT DRINKING has a different meaning and it is an option, but a tough and sometimes lonely road.
Its now been over 5 years since i have knowingly had a drink … of course it wasnt always that way, ive seen it from both sides. I first gave it away at the age of around 24 and have been on and off ever since, and maybe more years off it. In the early days my social life revolved around drinking, it had to, thats how we are raised, we are taught from a young age, we dont know any different.
Although i clearly dont recall my grandmother consuming as much as the grannies of today.
Society fights you if you resist, ive seen young people dedicated to their sport steer away from alcohol, but ultimately get consumed by the system … the system that makes it difficult to take another option.
Ive been described as fanatical or obsessed at times with my training, but lets put this in perspective … 3 maybe 4 one hour crossfit sessions per week a few years ago, and the odd weekend road trip for an event. A drinker will have one session that will last 3 or more hours in one night and many weekends away… could i suggest they are obsessed ?
Non drinkers can be labelled as boring ! lets also put this in perspective … i can have a night out and enjoy myself without alcohol. A laugh, a prank, a dance maybe, however put a drinker in a social environment without booze and they often cant handle it. Drinking becomes their personality, social events without it are unheard of and how grumpy do they get if they have to be the driver. Some unfortunately cant ever take that role.
Too much down time when you drink regularly is my opinion. Dont get me wrong i have few regrets, i enjoyed some drinks, fun and good times … “that was fun now lets do something different” id think.
Of course it doesnt work that way, there are consequences, you are drunk or hungover, maybe both, so you dont just move on.
You have to take responsibilty for your actions, something i couldnt hide from. If i had a hangover, did something silly, or made a bad decision, and there were plenty of these times, it was my fault, i knew i had messed up.
A lot of drinkers wont do that, take responsibility … i was drunk, i cant remember, free grog, i dont normally do that or just having a good time, the excuses are many, the cause is obvious.
When i mention i dont drink people often feel obligated to tell me how little they drink, or they maybe just have a social drink, or i need a drink to relax. I dont know why they feel compelled to talk it down cos i dont care … maybe it makes them feel better.
Drink to relax / unwind … im sure smokers and druggies have the same thought process.
Alcohol is a poison, have too much and it will make you sick, very sick, so lets just push the boundaries so i only feel a little crook. If you vomit well thats ok you just had a bit too much, but vomit after a tough workout and you are over doing it, or eat something that potentially made you sick and there is a pending royal commission.
If you have read this far you probably reckon im a real “wowser” but as i said i have seen it from both sides, so when i made the decision alcohol had a negative effect on my life and i would be better without it, i had no intention of being anti drinking, and im still not… And 5 years or more was never the plan.
It wears you down watching adults often make fools of themselves, living a life dominated by alcohol.
“When you go on holidays especially Bali, all you do is sit by the pool and drink” i’ve been told. Ahh not me !
Thats the issue when the drinking starts all other activity seems to cease, sitting for hours can be normal.
Have i decided not to attend an event or walked away and found something else to do ? absolutely !!! I have to sometimes to keep my sanity.
Its great to sometimes go somewhere for lunch where alcohol isnt served, it gives the people and conversation a whole new perspective. (It doesnt happen after dark that seems unachievable) and im not required to drive home, as thats the real convenience of a non drinker … to drive home.
Drinkers have a trigger point .. a time of the day they start getting anxious, i want a drink. For most it is about 4 or 5pm,for some it is midday and others sadly it is much earlier. Just like feeding time at the zoo where the animals start pacing the floor waiting to be fed, the drinker will get that anxious look, pace the floor and justify the time to make a start.
Harsh maybe, one sided, anti alcohol … whatever you think i dont know, the intention is only to state how i see it…. my perspective ! As i said I have experience from both sides.
Maybe one day i will have a drink and read through these thoughts and think why did i write this piece ?….
…i cant rule that out.
Average Jim 