Thoughts on Sobriety

(photographer unknown)







(this is a shot I took a few weeks ago with my phone)

As much as I occasionally miss drinking alcohol, hanging out in bars, feeling altered, and the taste of
Lake Louie Arena Premium in particular, the benefits of having chosen to quit drinking by far outweigh the pleasure associated with partaking. Here, in case anyone needs convincing, are the benefits to not drinking, as I have discovered them first-hand, in no particular order:

- you save a shit ton of money
- you have a lot more time on your hands to do more important things
- your memory improves greatly
- no guilt
- no fear of driving
- self-respect
- better sleep
- better judgement
- rediscovering myself
- and on and on and on....

Here's what other have to say about the health advantages of not drinking:

- Brains can recover from alcoholic damage but patients should stop drinking as soon as possible

- The liver is a unique organ. It is the only organ in the body that is able to regenerate... that is completely repair the damage -- however: The long-term complications of liver disease occur when regeneration is either incomplete or prevented by progressive development of scar tissue within the liver. This occurs when the damaging agent such as a virus, a drug, alcohol, etc., continues to attack the liver and prevents complete regeneration. Once scar tissue has developed it is very difficult to reverse that process.

I drank for 30 years. 30 years! Hard to believe really. And the last 3 of those years I drank heavily as I went through my divorce. I think I explored everything drinking has to offer. Time for the alternative. I like it so far. Most of the time.

~ will