There are a couple of bad things about being sober..
1) Occasionally I get a bit bummed out that I can't drink alcohol like other people can
2) My kids always steal my special non-alcoholic drinks (which I have rarely now but on weekends and special occasions I'll buy something different & treaty). They just go after it the minute they see I've got something different in my glass, knowing it'll always be non-alcoholic. This is very annoying.
I would go so far as to say that no 2) is worse than no 1). The number 1) feelings come along rarely nowadays and don't last long. Number 2) I'm totally over. If I want to have a special treaty drink I want it all to myself!!
There are many good things about being sober..
1) I'm no longer a tragic heavy boozer addicted to drinking wine all the time, believing (incorrectly) it made things more fun, not realizing how it was dragging me down
2) I feel calmer and happier in general
3) I look healthier (hair, skin, eyes)
3) I feel more authentic. When I react to something with happiness, fear, anger, sadness, joy, surprise etc..it feels more real and I sit more comfortably with the emotions (especially the difficult ones)
4) I get to do loads more writing because I started blogging as a way to keep myself sober and the blog led to a book and hopefully more writing projects will come..
5) Loads of things about me have improved - some of these improvements are imperceptible to others but I am aware of them every day. My cooking, housekeeping, personal grooming, dressing, etc has all got just that little bit better.
6) I don't know what my friends and family would say about this but I feel like I'm way more available and connected emotionally to everyone around me.
7) I sleep waaaaaaay better.
8) I'm part of a warm, wise, interesting, supportive online community of people interested in living without alcohol.
9) I get to be sober! And I think that's a totally interesting way to live. It's definitely more interesting for me on the inside looking out, and I think it's an interesting fun fact about me for people I meet .. something you don't hear every day, especially when I'm so open about my reasons for not touching the stuff (can't control it).
10) Shitballs.. I can't think of a number 10. Um….. I can always drive home, I never wake up with a hangover, I've more money to spend, my insides must be healthier, maybe I've reduced my risk of getting cancer or some other health nasty?, I read more books .. actually I could keep going forever. There are a million reasons why being sober is great and hardly any why it's not.
Don't believe me? Try it for yourself. Go on.. I dare ya….
Love, Mrs D xxxx
