Originally Posted by loud430

After going 60 days without alcohol, my cravings got the best of me and I caved in this weekend. Luckily, it was without any damage aside from feeling exhausted. There was a music festival in my city than I love to go to and many nights were late for me. My goal here will be to Samurai some thoughts. Short and sweet. A draw is a blow.

Alcohol, and addiction, takes over every want and desire we crave. As we adult (Adult: [verb] to be become childlike and less fun), we begin losing that which makes us enjoy life. We then substitute alcohol, drugs, sex, ect to fill in those voids because they are easy, quick fixes. When we are in a position to act like a kid again, and have fun, we may stiffen up and feel negated to do so. To counter that feeling, we drink or do drugs. Our body is already equipped with the ability to enjoy life with plenty of hormones. We just have spent 0-20,4-,60 years telling our mind to shut them off and act like an adult.

"Act like an adult" We are told. It is an act. It isn't real. We have atrophied our natural ability to love life. I'm struggling with this myself, immensely. Which explains why my guard was let down and I drank this weekend.

So what can you and I do? It's hard, but find and pursue ways to be a kid again. Play.

Working out is tricky. Especially if you find yourself comparing and wish you were x,y,z. Working out at a gym can be isolating even while amongst many people. You are doing activities around people, but those are activities are generally done by yourself, and any partner ship is hard to find unless you are very friendly with someone already. You may literally interrupt someone's agenda by talking to them which can be frustrating. Ect.

On the flip side, for myself, jogging is super therapeutic. It is isolating in a good way to the point of meditation. At times, my brain is solving complex issues with my current life and other times, I forgot that I just ran 3 miles. Throughout the run, I graze past lakes, animals, art, other runners, ect.

If you can and it is financially available, possibly try a boxing, krav maga, martial arts gym that feels friendly and inviting. They are there to train and help you be your best, while staying fit, being a part of a team, and much easier place to make friends. Talk to the teachers and get to know them. (I'm learning this myself)

Find other ways to be apart of something. Community service like habitat for humanity will fill you with purpose as you literally build a home for someone less fortunate than yourself who may actually be going through something similar. It involves teamwork again. A purpose. Find that greater purpose.