As we pass the mid-point of 2019…I have not had one drink. This is the story of my journey.
Seldom, well, let’s change that to NEVER ….can I tell you a story of my New Year’s Resolution that turned life changing. Heck, I cannot recall a story in my adulthood of ever reaching the Super Bowl with my resolution intact. Maybe not even Martin Luther King Day.
For some reason that all changed this year.
On New Year’s Day, I proclaimed that I was going to stop drinking alcohol, “as long as possible.” As a social drinker, someone who “has a few” from time to time, this seemed like a doable and advantageous resolution to tackle.
But not easy. After my first day back to work, I was thinking that as long as possible would be January 3. Just one, don’t worry about it, were phrases going through my head. But, somehow, 72 hours in, I did not cave.
From there, it got harder and harder, and then, at some point, in February or March, it got easier and easier. At least in my head. Society, meanwhile, invites you to sit back and have a drink often. A quick one at the bar with the buddies, the Super Bowl party, Valentines, Spring Break, Easter, golf, after work socials, birthdays, anniversaries, Fourth of July….the list goes on and on, and on.
Society means well and there is nothing wrong with a celebration, but why does a celebration automatically need to mean drinking alcohol? Since part of my reason to stop alcohol was to lose weight, let me add to this narrative — why does a celebration need to always involve alcohol and food?
I guess it is logical. I mean the following idea probably will not gain much traction for next year’s Super Bowl; the idea: Everyone brings their Yoga mat to the party. After a few stretches during pregame, we get ready for the game. While waiting for a team to score, we show off our best yoga poses. As a team scores, we do push-ups until the ensuing kickoff. The person with the most push-ups wins a bottle of Gatorade.
I know, that sounds silly. Maybe this idea will catch on: During warmer months we can invite everyone over for a party, and when all arrive, line them up at a start line. Baby strollers and everyone on crutches that day get to go to the front of the line. The gun goes off and we run or walk one mile, come back home and drink water and jump in the pool or soak under a hose, and talk about “the time, at that one party, where I ran TWO miles”….as we eat salad, quinoa and broccoli.
I know what you are thinking: I want to party with this guy!
That is my point, what other ideas are out there instead of drinking that can be used to “hang out” with family and friends? Right now, there are not too many very good ideas that I know about.
I can come up with one idea of a conversation starter for a party. Just tell someone that you “stopped drinking.” The reactions are interesting. It starts with the “why” ….it moves to “how long so far” ….then progresses to “how long do you plan”…then moves to “is it ok if I have a drink?”
Yes — it is ok to have a drink in front of me!
For the record, yes, it is ok for everyone else to have a drink in front of me. I often joke that the smell of the alcohol around me is not going to set me into a cold sweat and make me run to the fridge and grab a beer. After a while, the new entertainment for a non-drinker becomes the reaction to the news that I am a non-drinker.
During a golf game, a couple of friends who were new to my “status” offered me a beer. “Just one” and “its no big deal” and “we won’t tell anyone” were the phrases right before we got to the “so, why aren’t you drinking, was there a problem?” (No, there was not a problem).
A couple of work road trips saw the progression from “oh, that is a good goal” turn into “oh, you still are doing that, nice job….um, is it ok if I have a drink in front of you?”
Then there was an outing with some good friends, which the last time we met, well, let’s just say the group and I got pretty happy that night. This time, well, they got really happy, again. So did I, but not because I drank beer, and certainly not because of my six Coke’s, or whatever the hell a bar puts into a glass, with ice, from a hose that is used for mixed drinks. What is most interesting about this scenario, is that they did not even notice I was not drinking alcohol. I did not say anything; the topic did not even come up. They had fun, I had fun.
So here I am, in July, and my New Year’s Resolution is still going. Since I am on a roll, next year I will set the goal for that significant weight loss; the next year I will vow to become rich and retire.
I doubt I will be as successful as this year. For some reason, this one worked. It stayed the course.
What are my chances to close out the year alcohol free?
Will I ever drink alcohol again? Well, the reason for writing this now is that my daughter’s wedding in Jamaica is less than a month away….I have a feeling my resolution is in jeopardy as I hang out in an all-inclusive resort for a week during a beautiful celebration.
Even if I do drink a drop or two, or even three, right now I believe that I will continue down the path as a non-drinker. It becomes easier and easier, and certainly one drop, one glass or even a week of celebration does not lead me to believe that I need to “go back” to a time where there were many opportunities to “grab a drink” and many times I said, “sure.”
Think about it: a drink after a bad day at work; a drink after a great day at work; a drink on a road trip; a drink at the golf course; a drink at the birthday party….it all adds up.
There is nothing wrong with grabbing a drink. Read this article, go to the fridge and grab a beer. Grab a few. Get happy and drink a few more in the comfort of your house and don’t drive. While you are at it, get crazy and send this article to all of your friends and family…
For me, right now, at this point in my life, I am happy to consider myself a non-drinker and proud that I was able to get to this point…even if it means explaining my stance, telling everyone it is ok to have a drink in front of me or drinking a syrupy/carbonated “something” while out with friends ….or whatever else is needed to stay committed to this goal.
