Since my last drink at New Years, the small things seem to be making the biggest impact. Let’s take Friday and Saturday nights, for example…
Friday and / or Saturday nights used to be drinking nights. I was always able to find lame excuse (a party, birthday, farewell or promotion) that ultimately gave rise to a drink or ten. We would eagerly organise ourselves such that there was a sober driver or other method to get us home safely. Me, sober drive?!? No way!
Subsequently, my Saturday and / or Sunday mornings consisted of woeful activities like:
- Furiously scanning my (sometimes hazy) memories of the night before, wondering what I might of said or done that was inappropriate / offensive / embarrassing
- Anxiously checking my bank account, to see how much I’d spent. Other anxious checks sometimes included my phone. You know, for those discriminating calls / photos / social media for urgent deletion. The other check was my inventory, to ensure all possessions (eg phone, wallet, jacket, swipe cards) made it home safely with me.
- Delicately approaching my partner, to gauge if he was pissy with me due to my behaviour from the night before. This then required me to go into damage control and apology mode as required.
Looking back, I’m disappointed at myself for getting so caught up in this pathetic game. What a waste of time and energy! The end result was that I was left feeling miserable, unhappy and more likely to drink again to mask the mess.
These days, I wake up feeling refreshed, alive and inspired. Isn’t it great to wake up without a hangover!?!? All the feelings and activities listed above are banished from my weekend morning activities. These days, it’s the small things that seem to be making the biggest impact on the alcoholfree version of me. Like making poached eggs on toast. Like enjoying coffee while being inspired by your WordPress adventures. Like knowing the world is my oyster … a run, a drive, a lunch date with friends. No hangovers to get in the way. Anything goes!
In closing, the weekends have taken a 180* turn for the better. They don’t conjure up feelings of self loathing like the old days.
It’s the small things that remind me about why I quit drinking.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends. xoxo
PS it’s wintertime here in New Zealand. So my walks to work are partly in darkness. Here’s a pic from Thursday’s walk to work. Very chilly after a wild, stormy night but so invigorating! 💙
You are awesome! Insightful, well spoken and happy! No misery – no masks! Anything goes! I love it!
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Nawwww, thank you my lovely friend! Quitting the booze has been the best (and possibly the hardest) life choice I have ever made. They say only 14% of those who give up drinking make it to 90 days. Then 4% make it to four years. These stats appealed to the competitive side in me! But having made almost seven months, I totally understand why these stats are so low.
Hope your week is going well xoxo
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Those stats are sad…..But yay for you 7 months! You’re rockin’ it! No doubt it was and still is hard! Who doesn’t want to feel as good as you do? I’ve altered my own drinking – not given it up completely – but altered and I feel waaaay better than I did having a glass or two of wine every evening. I’ll still enjoy a glass or two on the weekend or for special occasions but hey – my jeans fit better, I sleep better and I feel better. Now if Kae just find her way to a happy place!
Have a joyous weekend! xo
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i could not agree more! weekends are now not a time of anxiety and hiding, but a time of true celebration of life! : D and I know you’re missing sunny summer, but with the 110+ heat here in Vegas I am so jealous of your nice cool looking picture! ❤
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Well said my friend, well said!
Lol isn’t it funny how we love each other’s climates. Hope you’re having a nice week. xoxo
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Have you calculated how much you’ve saved since you stopped drinking?
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Yes yes – thanks to the nomo app! It’s exciting yet horrifying at the same time.
Since 01/01/17 I have saved NZ$4,815.31 which is about US$3,536 at today’s exchange rate. It paid for my trip to Vegas earlier this year… next trip currently being planned.
How about yourself?
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Wow impressive! No I have not but that is a good idea. I should start tracking that. And then I can go to Las Vegas. Or New Zealand!
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Great idea! I think you can back date your last drink date in the nomo app if that’s useful? I painfully sat down with my partner and he held me work out what an ‘average’ week of drinking would have cost me. The app then multiples this out, week on week. A disturbing wake up call for me 😬
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Thanks for the tip. I’ll download the app.
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There is nothing like waking up sober and refreshed instead of hungover and riddled with anxiety and shame. It’s one of the absolute best parts of sobriety for sure!
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Ah, yes, trying to dissect the spouse’s morning face–is he mad, frustrated, sad, ok? What don’t I remember? Ugh.
You are so right. 180 degrees to freedom!
xo
P
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I’ve yet to dislike a picture that you post with your blogs. I appreciate it, make me want to move over there. Glad things are working out for you!
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I love this break down I’m actually wordless after reading more than twice thank you.
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Thank you kindly Joe. I’m so embarrassed nowadays, looking back at how stupid the whole thing was. A vicious spiral in full swing.
Hope you’re having a great weekend 🔆
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Nice post my friend you hit the nail right on the head, endless possibilities and the gift of being able to give others the hope that they can do it too! What a gift, we are truly blessed.
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Thank you for your lovely message. Looking back, it was such a constrained world.
I agree, now our possibilities are endless… I love that we can be our best self for ourselves and our loved ones. Thank you for making this very important distinction.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend my friend 😊
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I LOVE my sober weekends!!
See my post on Twitter with hubs and ice cream!!
Happy happy!!
xoxo
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Hi Wendy, oh yes I’d love to go check it out! Will just go make a coffee then read with interest.
Yay for weekends – loving not loathing them! ❤️
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