Friday, July 10, 2009

Raise Your Glasses, Let's Toast!

A while back I admitted I had a problem. A drinking problem. A problem that found me on too many nights drinking too much. A problem that made me wake up in the morning feeling like crap. I was drinking a couple glasses a night, and on many occasions much more than that. If we had friends over, I’d find a couple empty wine bottles in the trash. Often times, it was much more than that.

I made a conscious decision to change that behavior. I had to. On so many levels, it wasn’t good for me. I didn’t like what I was showing The Little Miss and I didn’t like having to try and piece the blank holes in my memory back together. It started out slow, but before I knew it, I was drinking every night, looking forward to the hour when I thought it was acceptable to open the bottle.

That hour now passes without notice. I still have an occasional glass of wine. It’s not something I need every night. It’s not even something I crave or even think of every night. I still love having my wine and I think I love it more than ever because now, it’s a special occasion. It’s a happy occasion. It’s no longer one ending into a spiral of darkness.

In the 38 days or so since I made the change in my life, I have probably saved about $400 in wine and a a lot more in calories. Both of those are great but what is even better is I feel so much human. I feel so much more alive. I have more energy. I’m more vibrant. And really that's what I need with a 3 year old running me ragged everyday.

So, let’s toast to not drinking so much!

13 comments:

Hanlie said...

Yay! You're doing great! It just goes to show that we can live without the things that are not good for us, even though we love them.

I had a very similar revelation recently. My friend and I are "wine people". We met over a glass of wine and we have buried hundreds of bottles of wine together. Yet, this year we've only had wine together twice! We've both moved on from having to drink (and smoke) when we're together. Last Sunday we were at a Sunday lunch and I said I'd bring the wine. I took 3 bottles, thinking we'd beat least 4 people drinking. We only drank one bottle! And I didn't mind in the least!

Good job!

Shelley said...

Congratulations - I am so happy for you that it's worked out this way!!!

Unknown said...

Cheers! :)

seattlerunnergirl said...

How wonderful to feel freedom from an addiction. Kinda like getting control of the eating. :) Keep up the work, and the great blog!

H.K. said...

Here's to making healthy decisions!

SL said...

Yay ... I need to take a page from your book (altho wine isn't my vice; I tend toward beer and margaritas). You're inspiring me since you've done so well. Raising my glass (of water) to you!

Gigi said...

Raising a glass of club soda to you! Well done and I'm sure hard to do at first. It will be so much for the better.

Angie Eats Peace said...

Congrats! That is a great accomplishment!

Valerie Roberson said...

Awesome accomplishment! Good for you :)

betty said...

good for you!!!! keep up the good work of drinking in very light moderation

betty

Anonymous said...

You are AWESOME.

Hugs to you on your achievement, and major kudos for taking the steps to correct something you felt is wrong.

Tina said...

Raising a glass of iced green tea in your honor. You've done such a great job!

Sagan said...

I'll toast to that! Great job.