stop drinking

I felt like checking in with the friends I made doing this goal. I marked it as complete once I passed my test of going out and now I feel I have control over my drinking. I believe that I have more control over my drinking when each day that I don’t do it passes. I am okay with going out and having a few drinks but those times when I want to do those things are few and far in between. The goal of quitting alcohol is different for everybody, finding what works for yourself is vital to your sucess. Keep up the good work everybody as we move towards living our lives to the fullest.

I went out last night and drank. I had a glass of wine with dinner and a frozen drink while walking down the river and a cocktail at the bar. I paced myself so that I barely got buzzed and never got anywhere near drunk. I wake up this morning not feeling guilty or that I have given up on my goal. I feel like I have further proven to myself that I can control my drinking. I am in control of my actions. I can go out and enjoy alcohol without getting wasted. I will not be making alcohol a part of my daily life, I am going to continue not to bring it home and only have it with dinner or after dinner. I consider this goal complete as of now. Thanks everyone and good luck with your goal. I appreciate all the help and encouragement that you all gave me over these last months. What I know now that makes me feel complete about this goal is, As soon as you realize and know that alcohol does not, can not, has never or will ever solve any of your problems you have the control over it.

I went out to a bar with my. Coworkers last night and proved a big point to myself. I had as much fun as I did when I drank. I can go out and hangout with my friends and not get drunk. I actually was able to enjoy their conversations and listen to my friends. Alcohol makes me a very talkative person and friends really just need someone to listen to. Alcohol is a section of my life story that is quickly coming to an end. I am starting to feel free but I will continue on my abstinence. I will only reconsider my quit on Easter.

I haven’t had a drink in a little over a month. I am proud of myself even though I was not a completly reckless alcoholic. I decided to give up drinking because it wasn’t fun and it didn’t do anything for me. Last night I had a dream that I went out celebrating with family and friends and they kept encouraging me to drink. Just one they said, I refused and told them there is no such thing as one drink. When I woke up I realized I learned something from quitting smoking, I don’t have to quit forever, I just don’t want to drink today. For the last several days as the temperature rises and I realize Summer is steadily approaching I have become increasingly worried about all the events and activities that I would normally spend downing margaritas. I am not going to worry about those days, I cannot do anything about them in this moment.Hopefully, when those days come I won’t want to drink then either.

I am going to be living in Savannah GA for a few months. Savannah is known for its Mardi Gras like St. Patty’s Day celebration. Its a whole week of drinking and debauchery, its going to be tough not getting caught up in it. But I will sustain, if I can make it through then I will know I mean business about this goal.

Last night my sister, a mutual friend and I were talking about our plans for the weekend. My sister and friend both talked about getting drunk and before I knew it the words fell out of my mouth ” I don’t drink anymore” it was so weird to hear myself say it. Soon as the words came out I had flash backs of doing back to back shots, drinking 8 $1 cocktail specials and then stumbling home.I don’t miss drinking, I think I am more interested in finding other interesting things to do that don’t involve the party atmosphere. Strangely enough I think I would rather spend my weekends at a fun part-time job or studying something new. I need to add value to my life and I think those two ideas are the best. There will be plenty of time to loaf around or waste time in the future, but this is my life right now and alcohol doesn’t fit into it.

Quitting smoking has really showed me how much money we waste on garbage. I probaly spent around $100 or so on cigarettes and probaly $100-150 on going out and drinking. I can only imagine what I am going to do with all the money that I am saving. I don’t think that I will completely stop drinking or going out but I know I want to drastically limit my outings to once per week with a budget of $15 per week. My way to prevent over indulging is going to be to only carry my ID and cash when I go out. If I get lucky and get free drinks that’s another story. However I am going to continue on my 6 month abstinence plan. That’s a birthday, St.Patty’s day, Spring Break and most of summer free of alcohol.

I had one glass of brandy last night and it was so disgusting. Alcohol is not good tasting, much like cigarettes, you don’t enjoy the taste but you get convinced that its doing something for you.I think I’ve made the right decision to avoid the sauce for a while.

I really appreciate everyones support, and the advice given by everyone.I feel that I need to clarify my position on drinking.I recently graduated from college and experienced binge drinking on a social level.I learned to drink in an irresponsible way, and that was the norm.It has been hard for me to adjust to not drinking like I am in my college bar.I don’t crave alcoho nor have a dependence on it.What I want is to prove to myself when I do go out to bars or parties is that I don’t need to have 5 drinks to have fun and as a matter of fact I don’t need any.Also, I am making a laundry list of changes in my life that require I make financial cut backs and booze was the first on the chopping block.

I have been questioning how realistic it is for me to say that I am going to quit drinking for good.Two weekends have passed I haven’t drank so much as a beer and I feel great.I have been thinking that about the problem with drinking is that I did it to run away from things.If I eliminate the need to run away by facing these issues will I then be able to control my drinking better when I go out? I think the answer is yes.However in the meantime I am going to continue to stay dry and sober.