I’ve always felt like I was an observant person. Since I decided to quit drinking over three years ago, I’m more aware than I’ve ever been.
Not only am I more self-aware, but I also notice the things that are happening around me. Sometimes I have fun with it. Sometimes I over-analyze situations. I see my awareness as a positive attribute, but my husband might beg to differ.
I can’t not notice.
My family and I recently went to an event where the booze was flowing. I noticed every person who was drinking, what they were drinking, and how much. I noticed how many jokes people made about drinking and being drunk.
I’m aware that alcohol is legal, and adults have the right to make their own decisions, but as a non-drinker, I wonder, is that all we have to talk about?
That answer is always “YES.”
Alcohol is so ingrained into our society that we don’t think twice about it. The thought of drinking for every occasion is natural for us. It’s what we think we have to do. That’s all we know. Not drinking is not usually on our minds unless we’re in recovery or have decided to go alcohol-free for other reasons.
As a non-drinker, it’s a lot easier to notice the alcohol that surrounds us. It’s like when you buy a new car. You start seeing that kind of car everywhere you go. It’s not like people weren’t driving that car before, it’s just that you notice it now. This makes me wonder how much our minds are actually on auto-pilot and we don’t know it.
Don’t you dare take my booze!
Social media is a place where you can voice your opinion, and argue with others who have differing views. Great, right?
Lately, I’ve noticed a trend with articles written about alcohol. Someone writes a piece on how much women are drinking, or why we should stop telling moms that wine solves their problems, and the comment section goes wild. People clutch their bottles. How dare we talk about how bad alcohol is for you! They don’t want to believe it, they don’t want to face the realities. But why?
I don’t blame the drinkers, because I was one.
You don’t know what you don’t know, right? We love to be comfortable. We don’t like to be challenged, because then we’d have to get out of our comfort zones.
Before I quit drinking I had no idea how bad alcohol was for me. I didn’t realize how much alcohol I was drinking. I didn’t realize that drinking a bottle of wine to myself (and then some) was outside of the norm. Alcohol stopped being good for me but I didn’t consider that not drinking was an option.
I didn’t know.
So was it that we weren’t taught enough about alcohol as kids, or is it that we don’t want to know? The unknown keeps us safe. Many of us live in that safe zone for our entire lives. I don’t know about you, but I want to grow. I want to become the best version of myself, and that doesn’t include sitting in the same comfortable space.
Being sober in a society consumed with alcohol can be annoying, and that’s a valid feeling to have. What we can do is recognize our thoughts, acknowledge how far we’ve come, and move on. Moving on is a very underrated ability. Try it, you might like it.
I want to hear from you! What do you find annoying now that you’re sober? How do you deal?
Follow along with Blair on IG @sobrietyactivist
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have THE FACTS OF (AF) LIFE. So you’re sober, now what? Well, you’re in the right spot. This is the place to be for all things AF (alcohol-free) living. Remember we’re sober, not boring! Be sure to check out this section to read more posts by Sober Curator Blair Sharp.
Resources are available
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
