Sobriety! Meaning = living a life free of alcohol and drugs. As I researched the meaning deeper, there were several descriptions, fundamentally though it is as described above.
I want to explore three things today.
1. Sobriety
2. Is it cool
3. regrets
Interestingly I read recently that some young people think that being sober equals a life of hell. I would be interested to hear what you think.
There appears to be a movement amongst young people in the UK living (what some call) clean and sober lives. They are advocating veganism and healthier food choices. They are also choosing to entertain friends with no or low alcohol substitutes. Despite all the things that we may consider that they are giving up, it appears that they are still having fun, enjoying others’ company and living whole and useful lives.
They are not suffering from hangovers, that feeling in the pit of the stomach or waking with a dry mouth from dehydration and a banging headache or having hot and cold sweats throughout the day. There are many clubs and bars in London that serve this community. Food, drinking, dancing, being merry and maintaining happy and healthy social lives.
Can this be hell? What do you think?
When I was younger, we didn’t think we had a GOOD NIGHT out unless we were hanging out the following day. I look back and struggle now to understand how my peers and I thought this was OK.
I consider the uninhabited behaviours that I thought at the time were OK. Well, I was entertaining and funny, not just OK, but fun.
Have you ever looked back? I have.
The person I was then is long gone, and I am so pleased. That person, yes, though she was fun to be with, a daredevil, you know, out there fitting in with everyone else. Well, so she thought. But they didn’t see her come down when it was over. The going home and the tears and depression, the utter despair of loneliness and then, yes, the feeling in the morning after the night before of shame, embarrassment and anguish, let alone the guilt, in case I had offended anyone. I had to face the world with a stiff upper lip and wear a smile, be a mum, daughter, wife, friend, employee or employer.
I don’t know about you. Do I have any regrets? No!
I wouldn’t write this blog or my work as a hypnotherapist working with addictions.
I love this work and seeing the change in others when they suddenly have the light bulb moment that change is possible. That they dare dream of a future now. That is without the pain and despair that being in the prison of addiction brings.
No regrets. Because I made a change, the feelings I experience now are grateful for the friends that stood by me. For my husband and children. All the new people that come into my life. Yes, a life that feels rich and full of potential and possibilities—feeling unchained.
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