Not Happy Hour-Happy Life
Hi Everybody-
Thanks for the congrats and the encouragement.... I'm proud to say that I've finished what has been, for me, one of the hardest challenges- letting my friends and colleagues know that I'm "not drinking right now".
I wasn't on here last night because my company had the final dinner banquet, which started at 6:30 pm with cocktails, unlimited wine throughout dinner, and then an after bar party afterwards in the hotel bar. This is normally the final DRUNK party, where we are saying our goodbyes until next year~ many don't even bother to go to bed, because they have to be up at 4 am for their 6 am flights.
I went to bed at 3 am, and got up at 6:30 am, because I had one additional day of meetings. And yes, I am still 100% alcohol free. I posted earlier this week that when I told my friends that I wasn't drinking- it was no big deal!
Midnight revelations:
1. The passion to succeed~ the "overachiever" reputation~ can be manipulated within my heart to support my decision to NOT drink.
2. The fear of becoming the social outcast is irrational and was for naught. Nobody really cared if I was drinking or not~ they were either supportive, or obnoxious. If they were obnoxious, and if they were drunk and obnoxious, why should I care about their opinions?
3. At the end of each meeting day, I was dreading the HAPPY HOUR temptation. At one point, I was reading my friend's Amstel Light bottle to see if it was reduced alcohol! The internal battle to drink was present, but I took mental baby steps to stay the course- drank water, found AF beer that looked "normal"....
4. Obnoxious, drunk ladies are NOT attractive.... and I admit that I'm normally the most obnoxious one (oh and the most drunk too!).... it was very enlightening to watch good friends change as the night work on.... :nutso:
I'm falling asleep here, but wanted to answer Thankful's question. When I passed the 30 day mark, I stopped counting- it wasn't that I stopped caring, but I needed to make this drinking decision based upon my health, and not on a self-imposed deadline. I need to make the choice today so that I'm healthy for tomorrow. If I create an "anniversary" date, than I'm "married" to Al, when a divorce may be a happier solution.
Thanks again, and good night!
Much love,
Hi Everybody-
Thanks for the congrats and the encouragement.... I'm proud to say that I've finished what has been, for me, one of the hardest challenges- letting my friends and colleagues know that I'm "not drinking right now".
I wasn't on here last night because my company had the final dinner banquet, which started at 6:30 pm with cocktails, unlimited wine throughout dinner, and then an after bar party afterwards in the hotel bar. This is normally the final DRUNK party, where we are saying our goodbyes until next year~ many don't even bother to go to bed, because they have to be up at 4 am for their 6 am flights.
I went to bed at 3 am, and got up at 6:30 am, because I had one additional day of meetings. And yes, I am still 100% alcohol free. I posted earlier this week that when I told my friends that I wasn't drinking- it was no big deal!
Midnight revelations:
1. The passion to succeed~ the "overachiever" reputation~ can be manipulated within my heart to support my decision to NOT drink.
2. The fear of becoming the social outcast is irrational and was for naught. Nobody really cared if I was drinking or not~ they were either supportive, or obnoxious. If they were obnoxious, and if they were drunk and obnoxious, why should I care about their opinions?
3. At the end of each meeting day, I was dreading the HAPPY HOUR temptation. At one point, I was reading my friend's Amstel Light bottle to see if it was reduced alcohol! The internal battle to drink was present, but I took mental baby steps to stay the course- drank water, found AF beer that looked "normal"....
4. Obnoxious, drunk ladies are NOT attractive.... and I admit that I'm normally the most obnoxious one (oh and the most drunk too!).... it was very enlightening to watch good friends change as the night work on.... :nutso:
I'm falling asleep here, but wanted to answer Thankful's question. When I passed the 30 day mark, I stopped counting- it wasn't that I stopped caring, but I needed to make this drinking decision based upon my health, and not on a self-imposed deadline. I need to make the choice today so that I'm healthy for tomorrow. If I create an "anniversary" date, than I'm "married" to Al, when a divorce may be a happier solution.
Thanks again, and good night!
Much love,
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