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Shackles be gone... This may seem like a small thing but I have to share it with you. My typical MO is that, on a weekend, I start drinking as early as possible to the extent that I won't go out on an evening or socialise as I don't want people to see me drunk. I won't have play dates for my family that go beyond 5 pm and drive home at a speed of knots if I happen to find that the time is ticking away. If I happen to be with a friend I make crazy excuses for leaving their company early just so I can get home to drink. I keep looking at my watch and panic in my head that i won't have sufficient time to do the needed damage. The change. This Saturday Afternoon I took my daughter to see a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a while. With no pressure to get home and get smashed out of my head, we decided to go for an early dinner. We went to a fabulous restaurant and for the first time in too long, I actually spent hours chatting away, eating, drinking (her wine, me tea) and really being happy. Without the pressure of the drink, I was free to spend as much time as I wanted with her. We left the restaurant, prompted by her, not me, late in the evening. When I drove home, it wasn't at a frantic pace as it would normally be, but in a safe controlled manner. The feeling truly was as if I had shed my shackles. It felt so liberating and freeing. Dinner in a restaurant, no booze or desperate need to get home to drink. Just incredible! I had to share....:ring |
FANTASTIC Hopeful!!! Hugs and prayers, Amy |
That's how I felt too Hopeful. I'd been so afraid to let go - thinking everything would be dull and pointless. I had it backwards - drinking was ruining everything, not enhancing it. I'm happy to see you upbeat and encouraged. :) |
Welcome to normal! |
:hug: Awesome post hopeful |
I'm so encouraged that I feel like I now have no reason to turn down dinner invitations... However, one step at a time! |
Oh hopeful, I so get that desperate need for everything to be 'done' by a certain time so the drinking can commence! Ugh! A miserable way to live and always in a panic if the 'schedule' gets messed with! Thank you for sharing this and I'm so glad you were able to enjoy just 'being' in the moment with your friend...lovely! |
Isn't it wonderful? To be free of the obsessive planning, the anxiety of having enough and having no interference. To be able to be spontaneous. To be able to go out at 8pm. Free from the worry. Safe. It's the best. |
A wonderful and inspiring story. What a great reminder of the big and small ways our lives improve as we embrace the sober life! |
That's wonderful to read. The drinking really caused so much more stress than artificial relief. I too feel pretty calm, relaxed in most things I do now. That's funny what you said about the driving. Alcoholics are dangerous drivers when sober. Liquor store closing in 8 minutes and it takes 10 to get there? I made that drive in six minutes flat more times than I care to remember! Like those mothers who lift Toyota corollas off their families when they need to, it's amazing what we would/could accomplish to get booze. |
yes I know exactly what you mean. Last Sunday I met some friends for dinner. They were drinking and I had 30 or 40 espressos, or so it seemed. Anyway when I got home I looked at my watch and I had spent 5 hours at the restaurant, chatting away and having a laugh. Unthinkable only 4 weeks ago. Isn't it funny how you can view the world without alcohol clouding your vision? |
The freedom to do what you want! It really is amazing. On top of my Saturday night out with my friend, I even went to a tree lighting with my family at 6pm on Sunday night. Leaving the house after - I'll just say dark- was unheard of previously, now I will do it - not too often though as it is cold out there! I'm still shocked at how, once booze is off the menu, you really can simply enjoy the moment! |
Originally Posted by MelindaFlowers
(Post 5065907)
That's wonderful to read. The drinking really caused so much more stress than artificial relief. I too feel pretty calm, relaxed in most things I do now. That's funny what you said about the driving. Alcoholics are dangerous drivers when sober. Liquor store closing in 8 minutes and it takes 10 to get there? I made that drive in six minutes flat more times than I care to remember! Like those mothers who lift Toyota corollas off their families when they need to, it's amazing what we would/could accomplish to get booze. OP- I also went out to a pub with my friend the other night and had a fantastic time sober. I'm the same as you, trying to get home so I can settle in with my wine. I went to the bookstore the other night, it was really fantastic. Yay for you xoxo |
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