#DryJanuary
I love a challenge that’s for sure! 2021 is my first year to sign up for Dry January - in fairness other years my alcohol consumption probably wasn’t in my top New Year Resolution goals. But this time last year who could have predicted how 2020 would pan out, Corona was just a beer, the words “lock-down”, “levels”, “tiers” might feature in the gaming world, wearing a face-masks in public you definitely would be keeping a social distance, and closing pubs in Ireland just before St. Patrick’s Day - sheer madness.
2020 had indeed placed alcohol consumption firmly in the spotlight of NY Resolutions -
Alcohol overindulgence is a very easy trap to fall into, it’s perfectly socially acceptable unlike other addictive drugs - in fact, you might be seen as a bit of a bore if you’re not drinking. Social media is full of alcohol - and it’s always 5 pm somewhere, its only right that you should “chill out” after a hard week you do deserve it.
But when does it become a problem? I guess the answer is when it becomes habitual, when you are drinking without even thinking about it, and habit is just a short stroll to addiction.
In my 2020, drinking wine on a weeknight became acceptable - habit even, missing family & friends, opening & closing my business, races canceled, the world as we had known it turned upside down, inside out and, given a massive shake for good measure - who wouldn’t need wine on a Wednesday night - and therein lies the problem with alcohol.
Like all drugs we attribute our moods, our abilities, our emotions, our coping mechanisms to this object, this thing - like an actual alcoholic drink has magic powers - to make up happy, to relax us, to help us cope, to take away the stress, to make us forget - and I guess it does for a very short period of time. But the cold harsh reality is that alcohol can lead to many more problems than it actually solves, no object or indeed person can make us happy, relaxed, chilled, or take all our fears away, the only person who can alter how we feel and how we cope with life is ourselves “the man in the mirror” as the song goes.
With all addictive habits alcohol, nicotine, prescription & nonprescription drugs, food - until we stop putting these things on a pedestal and giving them mystical powers we will fail to break the habits.
Mindset is the key to unlock our potential, seeing things for what they are - and understanding that we are in control of our feelings and actions, we can alter how we feel, how we react, and cope with life’s ups and downs - taking a long hard look at ourselves getting rid of the excuses we give ourselves, seeing them for the cop-out that they are - being brutally honest with ourselves if we don’t want to change then don’t and accept that as your choice if, on the other hand, if we do want to change then simply make a choice - you are not denying yourself anything, just taking control and making a simple choice.
Day 17 of Dry January I am still making my choice not to drink alcohol, I can’t say I’m missing it, to be honest, do I feel better, yes I think I do - is this forever, honestly I’m not sure - but I’m really happy to break another taboo and knock alcohol off its pedestal
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