What do you love about your AF or non drinkers life

dwayneshintzy

Will have been off the drink 3 years in August.....since that time, I've dropped 3 stone and have run 5 marathons (had never done one before that). Generally a much more positive outlook on life, actually have some savings and will soon to be moving to Hong Kong for what I hope will be the start of a proper career (teaching).

Wouldn't have been able to do any of that if I was still drinking.

Sunnyisland

Still loving it, the freedom, the energy,the happiness .

MilesMorales1

I've never drank, but I socialise with mostly heavy drinkers and when I see them making arses of themselves, or throwing up on the way home, I always feel good about my lack of alcohol.

Sunnyisland

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I've never drank, but I socialise with mostly heavy drinkers and when I see them making arses of themselves, or throwing up on the way home, I always feel good about my lack of alcohol.

Just wondering OP, if you being a non drinker why would you socialise with heavy drinkers.

K4t

realies wrote: »

Just wondering OP, if you being a non drinker why would you socialise with heavy drinkers.

I don't/can't drink but my closest friends would be classified as heavy drinkers and I will continue to socialise with them because they're my friends. The great thing too is that none of them judge me for not drinking, apart from the odd offer and tempting, as they know how badly drinking f**ked me and my life up.

MilesMorales1

realies wrote: »

Just wondering OP, if you being a non drinker why would you socialise with heavy drinkers.

Cos most other people do drink a lot, and my social circle would be practically non existent if I didn't hang out with them, at least locally.

Sunnyisland

Gone past the six and a half years now, it's a great life.

Sunnyisland

Another month gone and still enjoying the lifestyle of being totally clean and sober.

Abcxyz12345

I'm loving that I'm not facing into this long bank holiday weekend feeling fearful & anxious about what I'll inevitably end up doing or saying while drinking - and still feeling like I'd no choice about it all.

I'm really enjoying my AF life at the mo thankfully. Wishing everyone a good one!

Sunnyisland

Ok I got over Christmas fine, all clear headed and sober, actually there seemed to me not to be to much drinking around my family or maybe I just didn't notice it,But I tell you there is nothing like waking up and feeling good n fresh,enjoy the rest of the week going to wexford now :-)

Sunnyisland

Still free still happy :-)

Laeot

Waking up without the panic and dread of my actions or words the night before ...

The flying mouse

Was in a very loud busy bar last night,Woke up this morning after watching that great win for Ireland in the euros brand new :-) now that's unbeatable.

The flying mouse

Great to be sober great to feel good within my self and dealing with life's ongoing problems in a clean mature way.

Kiltris

Productive weekends!

Extra cash!

Loads of energy!

NO anxiety!

More self confidence..... The list is endless!:)

The Bishop Basher

Looking forward to another weekend knowing i'll be happy and present..

Far more likely to be found up a mountain then in front of the TV...

And since giving up drink i've never once had the Monday blues

Used to spend most of Saturday and Sunday on the high stool talking ****e :pac:

The flying mouse

For me and others sobriety itself feels so normal by now (much of the time, anyway) that I’m not stopping to remember how much better it is than drinking.

I miss waking up in the morning and being so grateful for my clear eyes, my lack of a headache and the horrible thoughts of facing the world.

Sometimes I just wake up and start worrying about everything I have to get done that day. Maybe I need to slow down, be gentler with myself, start noticing the good stuff again.

Maybe I’m just missing the days when all I had to do was be sober, when now it seems like I have to do everything and feel everything all at once.

But then I think in how far I have come and how much I have achieved, Yep life is good but one should not forget the hell we have left behind and for that I am grateful.

The flying mouse

Its Sunday and I feeling good feeling fresh and feeling clean,

Of out to a CA meeting shortly have a great day everyone.

hubba

Over 5 years alcohol free and I still get a little smug feeling inside when I hear someone describe their hangover. I say nothing to them but inside I feel insanely grateful that I was able to find the strenghth to make that change to be alcohol free. So much suffering was involved in my drinking life, why did I let it go on so long?

Thanks to everyone here who helped me (and continues to help me) along the way and wishing courage and wisdom to those just starting out.

The flying mouse

hubba wrote: »

Over 5 years alcohol free and I still get a little smug feeling inside when I hear someone describe their hangover. I say nothing to them but inside I feel insanely grateful that I was able to find the strenghth to make that change to be alcohol free. So much suffering was involved in my drinking life, why did I let it go on so long?

Thanks to everyone here who helped me (and continues to help me) along the way and wishing courage and wisdom to those just starting out.

Great to hear you doing so well Hubba, doesn't time fly :-)

The flying mouse

Another Sunday another clear head and looking forward to the day and what it will throw at me.

I'm going to finish the bottle I have in front of me and then I'm going to try to be alcohol free. I need this. Thank you, all of you, for inspiring me

The flying mouse

Still enjoying my alcohol free life ,dealing with my everyday problems with a clear happy head. Yep I loving it.

Still not managed it yet. Tomorrow. I'll try tomorrow

The flying mouse

Deleted User wrote: »

Still not managed it yet. Tomorrow. I'll try tomorrow

You do know tomorrow never comes, it will always be tomorrow, Why not try today, as in now.:)

Fingers Mcginty

My sober October is starting today. Wish me luck.
Just nearing the end of Allen Carr's book. Worked for smoking.

The flying mouse

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

My sober October is starting today. Wish me luck.
Just nearing the end of Allen Carr's book. Worked for smoking.

Good luck Fingers mcginty, keep us informed on your progress, You can do it

Fingers Mcginty

Ever since I was 17 I have been using alcohol. Most weeks it would start on a Thursday night and end on a Sunday night. My whole life has revolved around it and I've used it as a crutch at social occasions.
When I got married I got into the habit of drinking at home and for the last few years have drunk most nights. The problem is that I like the way it makes me feel and I truly like it's taste.
The demon is on both sides of my family so one could say it's in the genes. Don't know if there's any truth in that but I seem to be the one who is always ahead of everyone in a round system in the pub. I will drink 2 pints for every pint a "normal" drinker consumes. I speed up when in fact I should be slowing down during a session.
Anyway I've tried so many times to escape but toward the end of the week I start to feel great again and forget the reasons why I wanted to to go the sober route.
Associated thoughts seem to spur a reaction to get booze and I will use every excuse in the book to justify a drink to both myself and my family.
Here's hoping this time is more successful. First Monday morning in a long while I've woken up with a clear head.

Fingers Mcginty

6 Days today. I had some automatic thought triggers during the week but they didn't last too long...maybe 10 mins each.
Great to wake up on a Saturday morning with a clear head.
Gonna tip down the beach now for a nice little walk.

The flying mouse

Its a lovely Sunny day where I am, I am so grateful to wake up with a clear happy head :-)