Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
St Patrick’s day, the one day of the year in Ireland that, if we weren’t already entrenched in a drinking culture, then this is when we truly out do ourselves, we sit around with war stories of years gone past, reminiscing about previous years, almost convincing ourselves that those times were better, no current or future year could be any better, nothing could top the adventures we’ve already had, a tendency to live in the past, and for most of my drinking career that was the case, looking backwards to days gone by, where have we been? what have we already done? who were we with? nothing will be as good as those times surely?
Those times though were nothing to write home about, a national holiday of any sort always meant drinking the night before, and once upon a time I used to go to mass the next morning, throwing up in the bathroom, trying to pull myself together was never a good look, and all for the real meaning of St Patrick’s day, the curious concept of celebrating this man St. Patrick, it’s a sentiment usually lost in the occasion, the reason why the day even exists in the first place, a guy decided to come to Ireland and spread the message of Christianity, and the symbol of the shamrock was what he used to explain the three parts to the one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who knew?
Somewhere during my growing up the line between the spiritual and the drinking got blurred, and the rationale that everyone does the same, so it most be alright, surely? Became the normal, it became no longer about the meaning, the patron saint of Ireland, and more about all hail the Guinness, and that is still pretty sad when I look back, that somehow the commercialism took over within my addiction, and each year I ponder on how I started off as a young boy pinning a bunch of shamrocks to his jacket, going to mass in the morning, to a young man more concerned with how much was in his glass.
This will be my 3rd Sober St Patrick’s and for anyone talking or trying to convince themselves that they can’t be Sober, because this is the culture, this is what everyone does, whether it be New Years, Xmas, Independence Day, it's false, if I can make it through a Sober St. Patrick’s day, being on the emerald isle when the whole world seems like it is celebrating with alcohol, then it can be done, but here's the trick alcohol likes to spin, the "whole world" is not celebrating with alcohol and the social universe does not revolve around alcohol, our addiction though likes to sell us those fairy tails!!
Alcohol looses it’s grip over time my friends, we just have to stick to the plan, keep reaching out to the light at the end of the tunnel, long enough to make those feelings subside and erode away, many will say it can’t be done, where’s the fun? I’ll be bored? How do you celebrate an occasion? I say an occasion is more than what is in your glass, how about enjoying the company of others around you, enjoying the experiences life gives us, being able to appreciate every feeling and emotion life gives us rather than numbing it away, now there’s a concept.
Ireland for me has since come alive, people don’t come here for the Guinness, we’re more than that, alcohol is not what Ireland’s about, and if we think it is, we are truly selling ourselves short, there is so much more to enjoy on this island (Liam Neeson in the video below will explain), and maybe I’m not the most spiritual these days, and that’s fine, many can appreciate St Patricks day, simply as a celebration of Ireland, the day when the world curiously focuses it’s eye on this small part of the world, but we are more than drinking, and I am proud to be a Sober Irish man in that celebration.
Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone!!
PK
Those times though were nothing to write home about, a national holiday of any sort always meant drinking the night before, and once upon a time I used to go to mass the next morning, throwing up in the bathroom, trying to pull myself together was never a good look, and all for the real meaning of St Patrick’s day, the curious concept of celebrating this man St. Patrick, it’s a sentiment usually lost in the occasion, the reason why the day even exists in the first place, a guy decided to come to Ireland and spread the message of Christianity, and the symbol of the shamrock was what he used to explain the three parts to the one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who knew?
Somewhere during my growing up the line between the spiritual and the drinking got blurred, and the rationale that everyone does the same, so it most be alright, surely? Became the normal, it became no longer about the meaning, the patron saint of Ireland, and more about all hail the Guinness, and that is still pretty sad when I look back, that somehow the commercialism took over within my addiction, and each year I ponder on how I started off as a young boy pinning a bunch of shamrocks to his jacket, going to mass in the morning, to a young man more concerned with how much was in his glass.
This will be my 3rd Sober St Patrick’s and for anyone talking or trying to convince themselves that they can’t be Sober, because this is the culture, this is what everyone does, whether it be New Years, Xmas, Independence Day, it's false, if I can make it through a Sober St. Patrick’s day, being on the emerald isle when the whole world seems like it is celebrating with alcohol, then it can be done, but here's the trick alcohol likes to spin, the "whole world" is not celebrating with alcohol and the social universe does not revolve around alcohol, our addiction though likes to sell us those fairy tails!!
Alcohol looses it’s grip over time my friends, we just have to stick to the plan, keep reaching out to the light at the end of the tunnel, long enough to make those feelings subside and erode away, many will say it can’t be done, where’s the fun? I’ll be bored? How do you celebrate an occasion? I say an occasion is more than what is in your glass, how about enjoying the company of others around you, enjoying the experiences life gives us, being able to appreciate every feeling and emotion life gives us rather than numbing it away, now there’s a concept.
Ireland for me has since come alive, people don’t come here for the Guinness, we’re more than that, alcohol is not what Ireland’s about, and if we think it is, we are truly selling ourselves short, there is so much more to enjoy on this island (Liam Neeson in the video below will explain), and maybe I’m not the most spiritual these days, and that’s fine, many can appreciate St Patricks day, simply as a celebration of Ireland, the day when the world curiously focuses it’s eye on this small part of the world, but we are more than drinking, and I am proud to be a Sober Irish man in that celebration.
Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone!!
PK
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,010
Thank you for the lovely post.
Funnily enough my dad and I were discussing this exact same thing earlier today. I said the day has lost its meaning. He agreed with me and reminded me that we used to go to mass as a family on St. Patricks Day when we were younger as it is actually a saints day.
Anyway I'll be out in the sticks tomorrow. Galway was crazy last year. I couldn't take it and ended up in a real "old man's pub" out in Spiddal. I asked the old fella behind the bar if he could fix me a cappuccino. I knew I was chancing my arm a bit when he started laughing. Ended up with a diet coke instead
Anyway thanks for the beautifully written post and for the reminder of the true purpose of the day.
Funnily enough my dad and I were discussing this exact same thing earlier today. I said the day has lost its meaning. He agreed with me and reminded me that we used to go to mass as a family on St. Patricks Day when we were younger as it is actually a saints day.
Anyway I'll be out in the sticks tomorrow. Galway was crazy last year. I couldn't take it and ended up in a real "old man's pub" out in Spiddal. I asked the old fella behind the bar if he could fix me a cappuccino. I knew I was chancing my arm a bit when he started laughing. Ended up with a diet coke instead
Anyway thanks for the beautifully written post and for the reminder of the true purpose of the day.
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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"Alcohol loses it's grip over time, my friends." I was so afraid that would never be true, PK - but you are so right. Thank you for the wonderful post & lovely video. I hope to visit some day.
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
Outstanding post PP. And I would imagine if an Irishman can get through St. Patrick's day sober, anyone can. I have been invited to go to St. Paul (at 10AM) to celebrate the occasioin. Turned it down flat.
Instead I've taken some time to educate myself on true Irish history and how the Irish have been enslaved and oppressed throughout history, and yet not many seem to know, or worse yet care. Again, excellent post.
Instead I've taken some time to educate myself on true Irish history and how the Irish have been enslaved and oppressed throughout history, and yet not many seem to know, or worse yet care. Again, excellent post.
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 13,044
We have corned beef and cabbage already prepare in the crock pot for tomorrow. I will be celebrating sober as well. I haven't had a crazy St. Patrick's Day in quite a while, however, I remember going out to the bars at 8am in college, and many times after college calling in sick to go to the parade in NYC and then spend the day drinking,
No alcohol for this Irish girl tomorrow, although I will be wearing my green to avoid students attempting to pinch me, and look forward to breaking my diet for my yummy dinner tomorrow!!
❤️☘Delilah
No alcohol for this Irish girl tomorrow, although I will be wearing my green to avoid students attempting to pinch me, and look forward to breaking my diet for my yummy dinner tomorrow!!
❤️☘Delilah
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