I love this post so much. Thank you for putting this out there for others, like me, to learn about and consider for myself and others. I really appreciate this part: ..."rather than altering my senses to make my traversal through a familiar environment feel novel." It's so true. I don't know why or when drinking became such a necessity when there's the option to feel happier, more stable, more productive and oh yeah - healthier too. I see how you don't want sobriety to take over your identity - you've got so many good things going on - but people appreciate updates and perspective now and then. Especially from a great writer like you are. thanks again.
Brandon - found you through your lovely wife. Found her through the Kangaroo Sanctuary. I lived for 3 spectacular years (sober!) in Alice Springs. Coming up on 18 years without a drink. It’s Nov 8, 2024, and I am in awe of anybody who was sober on Nov 4 and is still sober today. As an American, it has been one of the roughest weeks in my sobriety.
Hey, thanks Laurie! We're actually headed back to Alice Springs for New Year's. So excited to return. Brolga actually officiated our wedding. Congrats on putting the booze down! I was very anxious leading up to the election and can confirm - the urge to get hammered was strong. But I woke up glad I hadn't. Ended up being a helpful reinforcer, I think.
Thank you for sharing your journey, and the issues we all wonder about when thinking about taking the first steps towards a healthier, more aware lifestyle. I admit I was thinking about that martini when driving home this evening, and promptly made one before reading your story. Right now I'm thinking about the internal dialogue I will have tomorrow before reaching for that beautiful glass. Thank you. And you had me at st, literally, your promise of easy, copious daily st will be one of the first reasons! Love to you and your beautiful bride. And that Bat
Have you found a favorite alcohol-free tipple? I wrote a couple of newsletters on this last week - the first on why the sober-revolution needs a kick up the arse and another on a wine adjacent Australian brand NON. I went to a wedding yesterday here in Margaret River, at a winery, and was sat next to one of Australia's most celebrated winemakers, drinking a non-alc G&T with no qualms. Not quite at the sober dancing stage though.
Tonic water is my go-to. I have a tendency to just immediately finish my drink (I did this as a toddler with my juice too) which I actually think was a big contributor to my tending to drink to excess. Especially dangerous at those winery type dinners with the endlessly refilled glass. And having something a little bitter helps me not just chug chug chug whatever I’ve got. I also like an NA beer every now and again. Haven’t gotten super into it but I like Ghia. Ginger beer. Not really interested in sweet drinks
Yeah, fellow chugger here. Sweet seems to be the go-to on a l;ot of non-alc drinks lists, especially mocktails (sugar gives the weight that's lost with booze), albeit find a bartender who appreciates a non-alc challenge and it can make for a great evening.
I meant to mention another sober symptom - I’ve always had a sweet tooth but it’s kicked into overdrive. But I prefer to take my sugar in concentrated desserts
“Cali sober” means someone who doesn’t drink alcohol but does smoke weed. I wish I could enjoy the occasional edible or joint but unfortunately I become dangerously insane
I am very glad for your year of sobriety. I am glad for everyone in a healing journey. I read this post and the previous one when you announced that you stopped drinking. I think that is problematic that you refuse to use the word addiction. You even separate yourself from the people with a real alcohol problem which I think is a very common ego trap.
From your own account, you were an addict, you still are. An alcoholic in recovery. You don't need to destroy your life to be an addict. That is a misconception. A dangerous one. What we have more in our society, and I met a bunch, some in recovery, are functional alcoholics. Just because you could still cope, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t have an addiction problem.
And addiction doesn’t solve itself by stop consuming your drug of choice. That is not recovery. Recovery is when you understand what made you an addict in first place. In this case, someone who likes to drink every day and sometimes until blackout. And for that you need a lot more work. There are very interesting books on addiction. One is: In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté. Give it a go. You may change your perception and understand what is problematic in your sugar coated narrative.
I think there's a very interesting conversation to have around all this that I don't quite have the energy for at the moment but I just want to clarify one thing: separating myself from the "real" alcoholics. I was just clarifying that I was not hiding a physical dependence on alcohol, the kind where you get tremors if you don't start your day with a couple of shots of vodka. A friend of mine was that way, he tried to quit cold turkey on his own, and he died from withdrawal.
My family is full of friends of Bill. Many paths up the mountain. I've known and said for years I'd have to stop at some point and in these posts I'm just reporting as honestly as I possibly can on what was helpful for me in changing my habits. Sounds like you've had your own journey with this stuff, and I'm glad you found helpful people/books/programs/whatever along the way.
This came from a place of love. I was not trying to be patronizing, I am sorry if it sounded like that. My alarms sounded when you said that you didn’t feel ready to drink again, yet. I don’t think that is a great message for others in the same place, but of course, this is your story and you have all the right to tell it on your turns. I hope you keep doing great.
I love this post so much. Thank you for putting this out there for others, like me, to learn about and consider for myself and others. I really appreciate this part: ..."rather than altering my senses to make my traversal through a familiar environment feel novel." It's so true. I don't know why or when drinking became such a necessity when there's the option to feel happier, more stable, more productive and oh yeah - healthier too. I see how you don't want sobriety to take over your identity - you've got so many good things going on - but people appreciate updates and perspective now and then. Especially from a great writer like you are. thanks again.
Thanks Heather! I had some friends lighting the way for me and found it really helpful, def trying to pay it forward
Amazing !!! And you have a song on the air!!!
Brandon - found you through your lovely wife. Found her through the Kangaroo Sanctuary. I lived for 3 spectacular years (sober!) in Alice Springs. Coming up on 18 years without a drink. It’s Nov 8, 2024, and I am in awe of anybody who was sober on Nov 4 and is still sober today. As an American, it has been one of the roughest weeks in my sobriety.
Hey, thanks Laurie! We're actually headed back to Alice Springs for New Year's. So excited to return. Brolga actually officiated our wedding. Congrats on putting the booze down! I was very anxious leading up to the election and can confirm - the urge to get hammered was strong. But I woke up glad I hadn't. Ended up being a helpful reinforcer, I think.
Oh enjoy!! Please get a flat white at Page 27 for me and have Laura post lots of baby roo pics on Insta.
Thank you for sharing your journey, and the issues we all wonder about when thinking about taking the first steps towards a healthier, more aware lifestyle. I admit I was thinking about that martini when driving home this evening, and promptly made one before reading your story. Right now I'm thinking about the internal dialogue I will have tomorrow before reaching for that beautiful glass. Thank you. And you had me at st, literally, your promise of easy, copious daily st will be one of the first reasons! Love to you and your beautiful bride. And that Bat
I'm quite certain you're doing just fine. Batty says "mrow"
Have you found a favorite alcohol-free tipple? I wrote a couple of newsletters on this last week - the first on why the sober-revolution needs a kick up the arse and another on a wine adjacent Australian brand NON. I went to a wedding yesterday here in Margaret River, at a winery, and was sat next to one of Australia's most celebrated winemakers, drinking a non-alc G&T with no qualms. Not quite at the sober dancing stage though.
Tonic water is my go-to. I have a tendency to just immediately finish my drink (I did this as a toddler with my juice too) which I actually think was a big contributor to my tending to drink to excess. Especially dangerous at those winery type dinners with the endlessly refilled glass. And having something a little bitter helps me not just chug chug chug whatever I’ve got. I also like an NA beer every now and again. Haven’t gotten super into it but I like Ghia. Ginger beer. Not really interested in sweet drinks
Yeah, fellow chugger here. Sweet seems to be the go-to on a l;ot of non-alc drinks lists, especially mocktails (sugar gives the weight that's lost with booze), albeit find a bartender who appreciates a non-alc challenge and it can make for a great evening.
Chug Bros
I meant to mention another sober symptom - I’ve always had a sweet tooth but it’s kicked into overdrive. But I prefer to take my sugar in concentrated desserts
Triumphant ! You’re my hero
Need to know. What is California sober? Also - well done you Brandon. Nothing better than a good writer who has something to say.
“Cali sober” means someone who doesn’t drink alcohol but does smoke weed. I wish I could enjoy the occasional edible or joint but unfortunately I become dangerously insane
I am very glad for your year of sobriety. I am glad for everyone in a healing journey. I read this post and the previous one when you announced that you stopped drinking. I think that is problematic that you refuse to use the word addiction. You even separate yourself from the people with a real alcohol problem which I think is a very common ego trap.
From your own account, you were an addict, you still are. An alcoholic in recovery. You don't need to destroy your life to be an addict. That is a misconception. A dangerous one. What we have more in our society, and I met a bunch, some in recovery, are functional alcoholics. Just because you could still cope, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t have an addiction problem.
And addiction doesn’t solve itself by stop consuming your drug of choice. That is not recovery. Recovery is when you understand what made you an addict in first place. In this case, someone who likes to drink every day and sometimes until blackout. And for that you need a lot more work. There are very interesting books on addiction. One is: In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté. Give it a go. You may change your perception and understand what is problematic in your sugar coated narrative.
I think there's a very interesting conversation to have around all this that I don't quite have the energy for at the moment but I just want to clarify one thing: separating myself from the "real" alcoholics. I was just clarifying that I was not hiding a physical dependence on alcohol, the kind where you get tremors if you don't start your day with a couple of shots of vodka. A friend of mine was that way, he tried to quit cold turkey on his own, and he died from withdrawal.
My family is full of friends of Bill. Many paths up the mountain. I've known and said for years I'd have to stop at some point and in these posts I'm just reporting as honestly as I possibly can on what was helpful for me in changing my habits. Sounds like you've had your own journey with this stuff, and I'm glad you found helpful people/books/programs/whatever along the way.
This came from a place of love. I was not trying to be patronizing, I am sorry if it sounded like that. My alarms sounded when you said that you didn’t feel ready to drink again, yet. I don’t think that is a great message for others in the same place, but of course, this is your story and you have all the right to tell it on your turns. I hope you keep doing great.