Summer and drinking

[lizker]

This is the first time I've had an almost entire summer and two major holidays (7/4th and Labor day) alcohol free. There have been quite a few temptations but the will to overcome the temptation triumphs. This was my favorite season to imbibe. Now that its winding down and the days will soon be shorter, I have a pretty good feeling that the Holiday season won't be that hard as I would be in the half year mark...ofcourse one day at a time is the approach as we never know what tomorrow brings but I do have a good feeling about the remainder of the year.

[treetops]

well done Liz. Summer, winter, holidays, boredom days - all can be tempting times to drink. Its amazing though when you get past these periods and you realized you didn't drink and the sun still came up, it was still freezing, Christmas was still stressful - but life goes on - and it was actually a lot easier to cope with sober. I have found that not drinking puts things more into perspective and I am far less disappointed (than when I drank through the event, as well as before, and after it) if the wonderful holiday or the event didn't quite work out as planned.
I have a big milestone birthday this week and 3 years ago I never dreamed that I would be sober for this. And it doesn't even faze me. I have a much better gift to celebrate - which is staying alive and being sober, and I might even have a summer to look forward to (I live on the other side of the world to you - where our summers are unpredictable).
Have a great day.

[briseus]

Great job Lizker.
I never really had problems with Summer...I got through Summer last year just fine...Fall and Winter is my downfall...Fall because of cider...apple & cinnamon cider was my weakness and I always went back to it. Thought, meh a glass of warm cider won't hurt anyone...but boy was I wrong...
Same goes with Winter...I get bored...being stuck inside...it's cold...not much to do...I kept falling before the snow hit...and holidays...phew...
But this time it's going to be different...just like TT said ^^ life still goes on...
I will get through it...last year I was worried about Summer and I made it through....I need to get into the same mindset for Winter.

But like you...I have a good feeling...

[lizker]

Treetops, great perspective especially when you get to the point of realizing you didn't need a drink at all. Alcohol in its genius knows how to weave itself into every aspect of our lives making us depend on it. What joy when we finally debunk the lie..
Briseus, I feel like we have a head start. The fact that you have built up so many days and are developing strategies to combat temptations is going to pay up when your trying season starts. I was a beer drinker which can be hard to drink when its 20 degrees outside but somehow I still managed a six pack or more most days. Hellish existence.

[Mr Vervill]

Great job, Liz! Keep it up through the holidays! First hump, Halloween, a traditional big drinking holiday. With 5 + months, you've got a great head start!

[Sunbeam]

I've been through those summer, winter and holiday cycles three times now. There has been no occasion good or bad that would have been improved in any way with alcohol.

[lizker]

Thanks Vervill, I don't worry too much about Halloween because I don't observe it but I know it can be a weakness to others. Thanks giving is my most trying due to the many days off from work but I feel ready. I have very valuable tools this time around.

[lizker]

I've been through those summer, winter and holiday cycles three times now. There has been no occasion good or bad that would have been improved in any way with alcohol.

Can't wait to say that Sunbeam. Been here too long to still be lingering at months. I wanna get to the year(s) club