Stayingsassy

I'm very proud of myself for changing out of pajamas and getting off Hulu to go interact with old friends with live face to face interaction: stone cold sober.

Lets see:

1. I looked fat in pictures

2. It was truly lovely to see people I care about

3. Some people didn't drink at all and I spent most of my time with them

4. Drunk people are hard to understand when you're trying to catch up, slurring, repeating themselves and just not quite clear in conversation

5. Drunk people hug too much, I like hugs, but one or two is good; maybe greeting and passing for close friends? hammered people do a lot of touching.

That's about it. They husband went with me and supported me so that was good cause we've been kinda distant lately. In all in glad I went and glad it's over.

Oh: and somehow most of them knew I was sober from my random posts on facebook! I never announced it but I do assert myself in conversation on social media. Lots of them wanted to talk about it.

Briansy

Wow, no way I would go to that event drinking let alone sober! Good going.

Stayingsassy

Haha: I had some really close friends going who spent weeks talking me into it. also I would NEVER have done it early in sobriety.

Briansy

I am starting to feel more comfortable with the idea that I don't need to go "out" in the evenings to validate my life. I'm anti social, don't like crowds and spend most of my socialising time with my golfing buddies and very good friends from home in Ireland (who I really only see a few times a year) anyway. Being comfortable with doing the things that make me content and not putting pressure on myself seems like a good plan but then I do wonder if I would be happier if I spent more time around people...

Stayingsassy

I think it's a balancing act. In early sobriety sometimes our motivation to go out can be suspect. I used my sobriety as an excuse to hide away for the better part of a year, and although I'm an introvert I found I wanted more human interaction (not social media) aside from work and family. I had the buffer of my husband and my old friends, otherwise I would not have done that, it was more a reason to see everyone.

I made myself do it, knowing that my isolation was becoming a bit toxic in itself.

entropy1964

Haha. Drunk people really do repeat themselves!

ForestFrenzy

"Stone cold sober" sounds like heaven, Sassy. No joke, of course.

This indeed was a triumph. I tend to hermit, myself. Even when I was years sober and didn't' feel like drinking was a threat, I made excuses for not getting out and socializing.

This was an inspiring post. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to break out of our comfort zones (when we're ready, of course!).

Also reading your descriptions of hammered people reminds me why I don't want to be a drunk. The inauthenticity.

I am sure you looked beautiful <3

Atlast9999

Sounds like a good night!

lessgravity

Nice work! Without falling into too much self-righteousness and judgement, I've found that seeing old acquaintances who are still over-drinking to be almost inspiring. ie No thank you, I don't want to be that person. Rather be the middle aged dad in great shape, clear eyed and in control.

Thanks for the post Sass and congrats.