epskie

Tonight I dropped my little boy's friend off at home after an out of school club. It has been a glorious day here in the North East of England today and many people were having BBQ's in their gardens - including my Son's friends family.

As I was chatting to her I noticed an almost empty bottle of wine standing on the grass alongside 2 glasses. For the first time in almost 4 weeks I wished I were like other people and could enjoy the occassional glass :S

I heard a great quote from Robert Downey Jr which goes something like "I do sometimes think about having a glass of wine with dinner, then I remember I have plans for Christmas." I have been trying to bear this in mind all night.

MycoolFitz

But we're not just like a person with Type ll diabetes isn't "normal" but we can learn to live a thrive within our limitations. Myself I could never understand "normal" drinkers-why quit after one glass of wine, that's crazy. Instead of focusing on that bottle of wine and the glasses and thinking what you're missing give a nod to all your sobriety is giving you back.

Jabbadabutt

yep, longing to be normal. I has accecpted that I will never be 'normal' again, and I can NEVER let my guard down around alcohol.

nandm

What a great quote! Thanks for sharing

PS...I am normal...normal for an alcoholic. lol

Dee74

Espkie I dunno if you drank like me, but I never ever enjoyed 'the occasional glass'...I had two drink settings...'off' and 'guzzle'.

I dunno if I'm normal...but I'm happier this way

D

LifeIsCake

Hi! I had to add my opinion on this one because this is a topic I battled with myself until one day I realized.......I am a normal person, I'm just not a normal drinker. I have started treating each form of normal as two exclusively different things.

I have 252 days sober and I'm feeling more and more normal everyday.

J

EmeraldRose

I know whatcha mean, epskie, about seeing the booze. I went into the store and while waiting in the line to pay I saw a nice little cooler where single beers were sold. Ahhh...but didn't they look good on a warm evening...first thought is no one is looking, I am home alone, what will one do, I could have it drank before I even got home? HAHAHA Then my normal self slaps myself upside the head and says "What'd'ya nuts?"

I think 'normal' is over rated...what is normal to the average person? Everyone has issues, baggage, problems. I think normal is the perception of what you see in another person. And once you were walking in their shoes you may not want to be that normal anyway.

least

I have never wanted to be 'normal', ie, like everybody else. I want my individuality and I like being different.

Noironsmile

I heard a great quote from Robert Downey Jr which goes something like "I do sometimes think about having a glass of wine with dinner, then I remember I have plans for Christmas." I have been trying to bear this in mind all night.

What a great quote. I am glad you are remembering it.

Little things will remind me of what I don't do anymore and they seem to appear unexpectedly out of the blue. When I am tempted I will talk myself out of it by reciting Robert Downing Jr's quote.

17 days sober.

Manz

First of all .... HI!

I don't know what normal is...and frankly do not want to be like everyone else...but I do understand the occasional wishing to be able to enjoy a glass or two. BUT... I just can't, and am glad that I have come to that realisation.

Well done on your sobriety so far, keep a hold of that and moving forward....it is so great living life sober.

epskie

Hi everybody, thanks for your replies - very helpful, each and every one. I think the popular opinion seems to be to embrace the individuality of being sober, so I will do that from now on.

I put my little boys to bed last night and we read together and I was thankful that I was doing it with a clear head; Downey Jrs quote did keep coming back to me - but hey anything that works, right?

Has anybody read 'No More Hangovers' by Allen Carr? It only takes a few hours to read but is quite empowering.

Just a quick question: it's my friend's Hen Party (bachelorette party for those of you over the water ) next Friday, none of my friends know about my sobriety, any tips from the wise?

Thanks again everybody

Dee74

Don't mind the title - these are some good tips for any social occasion:

Crying Out Now: Thanksgiving Survival Guide

D

SSIL75

I hear you. I have a friend who I always thought was an alcoholic, too but recently seems to have toned down his drinking and I find myself feeling jealous that he could manage it when I couldn't.

But I try to remind myself that my focus on alcohol is what makes me an alcoholic. I don't obsess about people's ability to eat shrimp, for example (something I don't like). Wow look at her eating shrimp. She can just eat 4 shrimp and then stop. I wish I was her with the shrimp. Does she have a sauce with it? shrimp, hmmm.

Doesn't quite have the same ring

So, it's just more of my alcoholic BS. I try to shush it because it doesn't add anything to my life.

And the fact is I am way more present at parties now that I'm drinking a coke or whatever.