C'mon.... we're going out for drinks!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
C'mon.... we're going out for drinks!
I can't tell you how often I hear this phrase or something very close to it. Particularly on business trips. But also just in general.... on so many occasions in life.
For a while, it was a hard phrase to hear. It struck fear into me. What would I SAY? How would I get out of it? What would they THINK of me????
But each time I honored my choice of sobriety and either went and did my own thing, or went along and ordered Pellegrino and lemon (this, only after I'd built strong enough sobriety to put myself in those environments without risk) - it got less and less scary. It got easier and easier. I felt better and better about my decision, my strength, my life as a sober human being.
"C'mon.... we're going out for drinks!"
"you guys have fun... I'm headed back to the hotel to catch up on work and get a good night's sleep"
"Sure! I'll come along for a few, but I have an early night. I could use a Pellegrino with a twist and some laughs".
"OK, where are you headed? If I finish up with this work in time, I may join you".
"No thanks - I don't drink. And I really do need to focus on ___________, but you guys have fun!"
"Hahahah!!! Hey, listen... my drinking was done when I was forty-one.... you guys will have to take up my slack. I'm headed to bed".
So many simple ways to respond to a situation that for SO long entrapped me.
You can be free, too.
For a while, it was a hard phrase to hear. It struck fear into me. What would I SAY? How would I get out of it? What would they THINK of me????
But each time I honored my choice of sobriety and either went and did my own thing, or went along and ordered Pellegrino and lemon (this, only after I'd built strong enough sobriety to put myself in those environments without risk) - it got less and less scary. It got easier and easier. I felt better and better about my decision, my strength, my life as a sober human being.
"C'mon.... we're going out for drinks!"
"you guys have fun... I'm headed back to the hotel to catch up on work and get a good night's sleep"
"Sure! I'll come along for a few, but I have an early night. I could use a Pellegrino with a twist and some laughs".
"OK, where are you headed? If I finish up with this work in time, I may join you".
"No thanks - I don't drink. And I really do need to focus on ___________, but you guys have fun!"
"Hahahah!!! Hey, listen... my drinking was done when I was forty-one.... you guys will have to take up my slack. I'm headed to bed".
So many simple ways to respond to a situation that for SO long entrapped me.
You can be free, too.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 34
THANK YOU for this Freeowl. Very helpful post. I haven't been asked this yet....only day 19 for me and I've kinda been hiding out in my house so far for fear of those questions. But I can't hide forever....nor do I want to...and your ideas of what to say will be useful for sure.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
