I’ve been reasonably faithful to my decision to stop drinking because of the crazy effects it has on me the day(s) after (see here). I had a beer on Halloween, and a margarita a few weeks later. The second day of school this quarter, I had several beers with my classmates. This was a mistake; I didn’t go to any classes the next day, and struggled the next. Friday night I had a beer and a gin and tonic, over a period of 5 hours. I woke up at 6pm yesterday. I had slept for 15 hours.
In August I called it a “correlation” but I’m more confident in my theory, and shall declare it to be a case of causation. I have thus renewed my resolve. And, looking back, it hasn’t been that bad. I certainly spend less money; a sixpack is $10, and I’d be lucky to get 2 drinks at a bar for that much. I wasn’t a huge drinker before, but I definitely have a few dollars more each week now.
As well, my friends have not questioned me, as I had worried. Turns out I have friends, not fratboys. (Indeed, apparently the day after I went to the bar with classmates the second day of school, a friend chastised the guys I was with. Hardly necessary, but swell I suppose.)
The challenge continues to be getting in a similar sort of relaxed/care-free mood one gets when drinking, getting into the right state of mind so that I don’t feel awkward, so that I can dance and laugh and have fun. Basically, getting out of my head and into the world. I raise my glass of water to fun nights and clear-headed days after!
