Okay, enough with the warm weather brags!
I had a little break from work recently and made some new friends - people I've known but have never spent much time with - and it was really lovely! I'm realizing I didn't do much socializing outside of my drinking. I'm finding that people are kind of sorting into those I'm comfortable with sober, and those I'm not. It's not necessarily a bad thing! It makes it harder when I leave to travel, but it's nice knowing I have some people I look forward to seeing when I get back.
That being said, even while I was drinking I realized how important it was for me to be happy by myself. Like you said, courage - sometimes I open my mouth and it disturbs people, and I'm happy knowing that what they think of me doesn't effect what I'm going to say. As I need to, or for work, sure, but in my personal life I don't NEED people to like me. Or at least people I don't care about - close friends and family, sure, but I'm pretty happy with who I am these days and that's made a big difference in my drinking habits.
Hi stargazer! Sounds like you're having quite the week! I hope it's for fun and not for work.