Notices

Remind me why we drink?

Old 09-16-2014, 04:23 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
JasonNorth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Posts: 204
Remind me why we drink?

So far in 16 days without drinking I've;
  • Cleaned out all my house cupboards & chucked loads of stuff (including bank statements over 10 years old).
  • Found loads of old things i thought i'd lost, including a 44 year old teddybear & washed him & re-stuffed him.
  • Got back to the gym & working very hard
  • Turned up for work on time every day (20 mins late was standard for me)
  • worked late twice (id usually be out the door at 5.00)
  • Walked to work twice in 2 weeks (I've only done it twice in the year before)
  • Arranged to spend a weekend with my dad (I've never done this alone before, always as part of wider family gatherings)
  • Met my sister & helped her sort her finances (at my request)
  • Sorted my own finances out.
  • Put some curtains up (took me 14 months)
  • Bought an Ironing board (took 8 weeks to do this).
  • My complexion & skin is looking great
  • my breath & mouth feels very fresh & I have no worry about breathing on people.
  • no puffyness under the eyes
  • I have so much more money - I've spent about £100 on new household items to brighten the place up,
  • started reading my first book in about 5 years
  • went to the theater
  • wash my face every night before bed (sadly i usually didn't bother).
  • eating so much more healthier
  • I started to wear a belt for my jeans as they became loose.

The list goes on, but it just goes to show when you aren't wasting 4 or 5 hours a night & all weekend drinking, you loose all your motivation for all the little things that make your life so much better & organised.

Without realizing it, you're a walking zombie all week, topping yourself up with pints of low-dose poison daily.

can somebody remind me why we drink in the first place???
JasonNorth is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:26 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
FreeOwl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
because we're alcoholic?

lol

yeah, it's pretty amazing how much can be accomplished in the time it takes to guzzle poison.....
FreeOwl is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:28 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
JasonNorth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Posts: 204
Originally Posted by FreeOwl View Post
because we're alcoholic?

lol

yeah, it's pretty amazing how much can be accomplished in the time it takes to guzzle poison.....

It's a rhetorical question. To highlight a point Mr!

JasonNorth is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:28 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Member
 
Julie59's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Posts: 518
Fantastic!!!!
Julie59 is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:29 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Gatineau, QC, CA
Posts: 5,100
Awesome list and well done! Glad you are seeing the advantages and the things you can accomplish, including breathing on people. LOL!
Thepatman is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:32 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Member
 
Bruno1979's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Staffordshire UK
Posts: 514
I honestly don't know fella,

Well done on your sober time,

Bruno.
Bruno1979 is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:32 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: eden,ny
Posts: 2
why we drink

Good question,depression loneliness,fear,pain,I guess you can go on and on,on my fifth day i feel like I'am in a boat without a paddle,been drinking for 40 plus years quit a few times,I enrolled in a outpatient treatment program for the first time,I really don't have many choices left since my health has taken a turn for the worse,hope you stay sober,god bless you,Al.
HARLEYRED2007 is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:37 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
JasonNorth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Posts: 204
Originally Posted by HARLEYRED2007 View Post
Good question,depression loneliness,fear,pain,I guess you can go on and on,on my fifth day i feel like I'am in a boat without a paddle,been drinking for 40 plus years quit a few times,I enrolled in a outpatient treatment program for the first time,I really don't have many choices left since my health has taken a turn for the worse,hope you stay sober,god bless you,Al.
I know there are lots of reasons why people turn to drink & they stick with it because it's addictive.

I'm not trying to simplify or ignore the complex reasons why people drink.

I just wanted to share my own thoughts for my learning benefit & perhaps for others who are in early stages like me.

& 5 days is fantastic. soon you'll be cleaning out your cupboards next week like i was
JasonNorth is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:46 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sydney NSW
Posts: 350
Excellent! Some of these are on my to-do list. Especially spring cleaning cupboards etc..

I never used to wash my face before bed either (nor brush my teeth). And I wear make-up... yech.
sickofthiscrap is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 04:53 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
 
earlyriser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Western NY
Posts: 125
Just what I needed at this moment.
earlyriser is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 05:35 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Hopeful
 
Jeremiah2911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 140
JasonNorth,
You are an inspiration! I am on day 6 and I have marveled at how much better I feel. Little by little, I am gaining more energy to do things. I used to just get home from work, crash in my chair with a bottle (or more) of wine until it was time to go to bed. Now, I have visited a girl in the hospital, went shopping a bit, went out to dinner with my dad. I can't wait to see what day 16 brings for me!!! Thanks for the encouragement!
Jeremiah2911 is offline  
Old 09-16-2014, 06:19 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
 
Alynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ga
Posts: 1,511
Yes the last 16 days have been great! Let's keep Em coming!

I can do all things through he who strengthens me
Alynn is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 12:43 AM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
Meraviglioso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,251
Great stuff, thanks for typing this out. YOu have done A LOT! Congratulations to you!
Meraviglioso is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 12:54 AM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
MarathonMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 611
I drank because it's what I've always done. For me stopping drinking is facing a life unknown to me.....I put off stopping out of fear of being adrift once I let go of alcohol. When it's all you've ever known or remember the fear holds you in place. The same reason you stay in a crappy job because of the fear that the new job might leave you more miserable than the current one.
MarathonMan is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 01:29 AM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
JasonNorth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Posts: 204
Originally Posted by MarathonMan View Post
I drank because it's what I've always done. For me stopping drinking is facing a life unknown to me.....I put off stopping out of fear of being adrift once I let go of alcohol. When it's all you've ever known or remember the fear holds you in place. The same reason you stay in a crappy job because of the fear that the new job might leave you more miserable than the current one.

How do you fill 40 hours a week that have previously been filled by drinking?

It's easy to see two things for you. Running and getting back to shape. Plus becoming a parent.

Why don't you sign up for a marathon next year? A goal to train for.
JasonNorth is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 01:41 AM
  # 16 (permalink)  
Member
 
MarathonMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 611
Originally Posted by JasonNorth View Post
How do you fill 40 hours a week that have previously been filled by drinking?

It's easy to see two things for you. Running and getting back to shape. Plus becoming a parent.

Why don't you sign up for a marathon next year? A goal to train for.
I actually didn't really stop running this relapse.....I actually ran quite a lot of times at the weekend while drunk which is a very different experience and probably not advisable. I'm booked in to run London Marathon this year so I will be doing a marathon. Although some times I'm not sure running helps me all that much, it's very bitter sweet for me as alcohol addiction made me throw away some real opportunities I had in the sport.

As you said fatherhood is my main motivation....I would like to be a better husband and a good dad.

Anyway don't want to hijack you're thread, congrats on 16 days, I'm on 8 so hopefully we can take the journey together.
MarathonMan is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 02:19 AM
  # 17 (permalink)  
Member
 
DarkDays's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: London
Posts: 1,384
Because we are brainwashed and conditioned from an early age to think that pouring a toxic poison down ones throat will enhance our lives .

When I look at teenagers drinking now makes me sad , I wonder how many of them will have problems with it or accidents etc . It's like they are told YOU have now reached a certain age it's time to start pouring a toxic drug into your amazing human body . Advertising peer pressure etc as regards to alcohell is relentless .
DarkDays is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 09:52 AM
  # 18 (permalink)  
Member
 
PurpleKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Nice post!!
PurpleKnight is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 09:55 AM
  # 19 (permalink)  
Member
 
LBrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Posts: 12,000
great post jason
LBrain is offline  
Old 09-17-2014, 01:11 PM
  # 20 (permalink)  
Member
 
sthlondonab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: London, Uk
Posts: 1,694
Fantastic post. That is amazing, such a lot done. You are right on all the hours back, that's like 28+ per week? Wow, never thought of it like that.
sthlondonab is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:19 AM.