The many things I can’t do
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 104
The many things I can’t do
Was reading a thread on moderation in the Newcomers forum and a longer term perspective struck me.
Like others the realisation that I just cannot drink alcohol was perhaps the single most liberating step in my life. But, tough that it was to get there at the time, in hindsight it was really no sacrifice.
There are thousands of things I can’t do for various reasons - gymnastics, speak Chinese, go rock climbing, drive a motorcycle, play the piano, visit the North Pole, or, nearer the mark, take crack cocaine. They may be physically, financially geographical impossible, or just too risky. I don’t think about my inability to do them and in my experience you do in time get to think about alcohol in that way. And then are free from all the problems it brings.
I could make a huge list of things I would like to do but can’t. Over time in sobriety, alcohol dropped down the list. Now, even if the list was infinitely long, drinking alcohol would not make it.
Sometimes there are threads listing all the positive things sobriety enabled people to do. For me these included running marathons, learning to read music/play the sax. And, much more important, being a good parent. So sure my inability to drink denies me the fleeting buzz before the s**t inevitably hit the fan. How much does that bother me now? On a scale of 1 to 10, less than zero...
...and, while I’m certainly not going to take up crack and to be honest rock climbing is not for me, I may someday get round to some of the other things nearer the top of the list...
Like others the realisation that I just cannot drink alcohol was perhaps the single most liberating step in my life. But, tough that it was to get there at the time, in hindsight it was really no sacrifice.
There are thousands of things I can’t do for various reasons - gymnastics, speak Chinese, go rock climbing, drive a motorcycle, play the piano, visit the North Pole, or, nearer the mark, take crack cocaine. They may be physically, financially geographical impossible, or just too risky. I don’t think about my inability to do them and in my experience you do in time get to think about alcohol in that way. And then are free from all the problems it brings.
I could make a huge list of things I would like to do but can’t. Over time in sobriety, alcohol dropped down the list. Now, even if the list was infinitely long, drinking alcohol would not make it.
Sometimes there are threads listing all the positive things sobriety enabled people to do. For me these included running marathons, learning to read music/play the sax. And, much more important, being a good parent. So sure my inability to drink denies me the fleeting buzz before the s**t inevitably hit the fan. How much does that bother me now? On a scale of 1 to 10, less than zero...
...and, while I’m certainly not going to take up crack and to be honest rock climbing is not for me, I may someday get round to some of the other things nearer the top of the list...
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: uk
Posts: 2,428
Lovely thread.
Thousands of positives in quitting drinking.
I think one of my biggest is that I like myself. I can walk along smiling, head up, not full of shame. I can see the changes I want to make as I go through life.
Thousands of positives in quitting drinking.
I think one of my biggest is that I like myself. I can walk along smiling, head up, not full of shame. I can see the changes I want to make as I go through life.
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