What do you love about your AF or non drinkers life

Sunnyisland · 10-08-2014 9:05am

Where I am it's a lovely sunny day and even though I was out very late last night, it is a great feeling to wake up clear headed and feeling good .

Sunnyisland · 20-08-2014 11:33am

Hi All
Until you step away from alcohol you don't realize how it takes over your total being.
If I went to a football game when is it half time so i can get a drink.
If I went out to dinner why is the waiters taking so long to take my drink order.
Do we have enough beers for the boat trip or are the beers cold for the afternoon barbecu. (i live in portugal)
Everything I was involved in was secondary.

Now everything I enjoy as a Hobby is my focal point. My physical fitness is important so I can perform and feel at my best .I used to never stop thinking about the beer waiting for me. I was never enjoying fully what used to be a passion.

Looking back on my life I was passionate about drinking.How sad!
I now go out to eat and look forward to the taste of the food. I compete putting my all into my effort into what i now enjoy, no hangover excuses. I am enjoying life and feel I am stopping and living in the moment.

When I first stopped drinking I could never imagine I would rather be at home with a good book then out with the gang drinking.I now prefer it and enjoy the control and calm I have in my life.Yes the control over not drinking which I never had before because I thought I would miss the lifestyle that went along with it.
It was the wrong choice for a lifestyle and it had taken over control of every aspect of my life.
I have the control back . Not the control over al but the control over the decision not to drink.
No thanks I don't drink do you have a soda. Nobody I know can imagine how good it feels to me inside to say that.

have a good day :-)

hubba · 20-08-2014 2:28pm

realies wrote: »

Hi All
Until you step away from alcohol you don't realize how it takes over your total being.
If I went to a football game when is it half time so i can get a drink.
If I went out to dinner why is the waiters taking so long to take my drink order.
Do we have enough beers for the boat trip or are the beers cold for the afternoon barbecu. (i live in portugal)
Everything I was involved in was secondary.

Now everything I enjoy as a Hobby is my focal point. My physical fitness is important so I can perform and feel at my best .I used to never stop thinking about the beer waiting for me. I was never enjoying fully what used to be a passion.

Looking back on my life I was passionate about drinking.How sad!
I now go out to eat and look forward to the taste of the food. I compete putting my all into my effort into what i now enjoy, no hangover excuses. I am enjoying life and feel I am stopping and living in the moment.

When I first stopped drinking I could never imagine I would rather be at home with a good book then out with the gang drinking.I now prefer it and enjoy the control and calm I have in my life.Yes the control over not drinking which I never had before because I thought I would miss the lifestyle that went along with it.
It was the wrong choice for a lifestyle and it had taken over control of every aspect of my life.
I have the control back . Not the control over al but the control over the decision not to drink.
No thanks I don't drink do you have a soda. Nobody I know can imagine how good it feels to me inside to say that.

have a good day :-)

Thanks, Realies. I love your posts. Sometimes you can find yourself wavering and thinking why did I make this choice, this apparently 'anti-social' choice but reading any of your posts reminds me why. What complete foolishness was it that had me waste years of my life obsessing over booze. But better late than never. Loving life now, so light and free of the mental seesaw that went along with boozing. Life now is life, real life not distorted and weighed down by alcohol.

Stay sober, folks.

stefan idiot jones · 10-09-2014 9:02pm

Not that I am a deep thinker or analyser at all, but as I am living in Brisbane where the sun comes up at five in the morning, thanks to me not having a banging headache and feeling altogether sh*tty, I'm up at the crack of dawn full of life, cycle to work (5 miles) ready for seven, then get stuck into my day with gusto.

If I was still drinking there would be no way I could do this so Yay for sobriety.

walshyp · 22-09-2014 10:45pm

Three months off the Hooch after weekend binging for last eleven years and last couple of years usually 5 or 6 pints twice a week after work. It was tough and the anxiety was brutal but heres what I love about my non drinkers life.

I love the fact I have an extra 700-1000 euro in my wallet every month. I was always broke but always had money for Beer. Now I'm saving money.

I like the fact my performance in work has improved 300%. No more anxiety. No guilt. No regrets about the weekend No more tiredness, no more confusion, no feeling sick till Thursday. No more feeling like someone is out to get me. I finally love my job. Manager praising me last two months like mad!

I like the fact that I can get up early on Weekends and not stay in bed till three on weekends nursing a hangover bringing it into work the following week. Spending money on a trip somewhere seems like pennies now.

I love the fact that I am no longer a lazy slob. I am eating healthy and exercising and getting fit. I'm going to go back playing Gaelic Football and soccer with the local team. They all seem to be social enough drinkers. Five or six pints in the night. For me is was minimum 12 pints or drank every penny in my pocket.

Winter is going to be tough because during the summer I did cycling, hill walking, fishing etc but now I'm not sure how I'm going to spend the nights is the only thing

FTA69 · 30-09-2014 12:25pm

walshyp wrote: »

Winter is going to be tough because during the summer I did cycling, hill walking, fishing etc but now I'm not sure how I'm going to spend the nights is the only thing

Perhaps look at taking up an indoor sport for the Winter? A few of the senior London GAA squad are coming to my boxing club now three times a week to keep fit over that period; you don't necessarily have to fight or spar and most gyms do weekend classes as well. It would fit neatly into your fitness regime. Even if that doesn't appeal, you could join a commercial gym and use the equipment, weights etc there.

Another useful avenue might be learning a language. I'm learning Spanish at the moment and it's very rewarding. There's plenty social and sporting activities you can do during the Winter.

FTA69 · 08-10-2014 2:21pm

Sunday's going to be a great day. I'll be at a mate's birthday the night before but will be up early at 9am.

I'll do an hour's training myself for my fight at the gym I coach at and then spend the morning coaching the kids in the sweet science of boxing. After that, I'll be jumping on the Tube to Brixton to enjoy a tour of the area with a former gang member who explains the history and development of the iconic area. This will be followed by a slap-up meal in a Caribbean restaurant followed by a jaunt to Clapham to watch a Love/Hate screening in the pub.

All better than getting manked out of my mind.

Sunnyisland · 09-10-2014 9:40am

FTA69 wrote: »

Sunday's going to be a great day. I'll be at a mate's birthday the night before but will be up early at 9am.

I'll do an hour's training myself for my fight at the gym I coach at and then spend the morning coaching the kids in the sweet science of boxing. After that, I'll be jumping on the Tube to Brixton to enjoy a tour of the area with a former gang member who explains the history and development of the iconic area. This will be followed by a slap-up meal in a Caribbean restaurant followed by a jaunt to Clapham to watch a Love/Hate screening in the pub.

All better than getting manked out of my mind.

Sounds like a good plan FTA69, enjoy.

iusedtoknow · 09-10-2014 3:50pm

Last week, I was in New York for work. After a long couple of days of meetings and work, we had Friday off to relax (nothing more heartbreaking than being on the 50th floor of a building in ny for 16 hour work days...looking out on that beautiful city.

Thursday night, i joined my team for drinks in the hotel bar - i had a tonic water and took my leave, went for dinner with an old secondary school friend of mine (also a non drinker) and then went for tea afterwards - it was great to reconnect with an old friend like that. I got back to the hotel at 1am after having walked miles around the city at night - my team (peers) were still at the same table, a lot sloppier than earlier.

Friday came, I woke at 6:00 and went for a jog. On my way out of the hotel, I bumped into our chief architect - he sincerely didn't know that i didn't drink (i am irish after all

). Neither does he. He was also on his way out for a run. We decided to exercise together. In this hour, we spoke a lot about our job, our company, our aims. After our run, we went and had some breakfast, spoke about plans for the day. We decided to meet up later that afternoon for a coffee.

My immediate team of peers (am a senior IT manager) got up at 11, all hungover as anything, and most didn't leave the hotel that day. The ones that did, i saw a lot of photos of drinking in various bars around the city...I went to a museum, walked a bit, sat and read for a while and met the architect for a coffee as arranged. Dinner that night had a lot of drunks, I chatted to the few sober ones, and took my leave for my early flight on Saturday ( i live on the west coast).

Monday morning rolls in, I get an email from the chief - he has a position that would be perfect for me - a bit less travel and a lot more responsibility (and pay). I start November 1st.

A few years ago, I would have been propping up the bar, getting sloppier, talking crap and wasting the entire next day worrying about what I had said. Instead I got some value for free day, and my career is suddenly taking a turn that I didn't expect.

What a difference a few years makes.

hubba · 10-10-2014 9:38am

Great post, iusedtoknow. Great to see your live so changed, and for the better.

Dermighty · 11-10-2014 1:22pm

Does anyone not drink regularly but still feel that they've an issue with alcohol?

K4t · 11-10-2014 7:58pm

Dermighty wrote: »

Does anyone not drink regularly but still feel that they've an issue with alcohol?

I had only drank on four or five occasions in the entire year before I realised I had to stop drinking. I always knew I had a problem though which perhaps explains the infrequent nature of my drinking.

Sunnyisland · 25-03-2015 12:23am

Still lovin my alcohol free life, still getting a buzz from real living, keep it going people .

kevohmsford · 25-03-2015 10:43am

I really like waking up fresh in the morning, especially at weekends. I require less sleep now. It is also great having more money in my pocket each week.
I also have a better outlook on life in general and can meet challenges head on.

hubba · 25-03-2015 3:59pm

I think I've said it before but I love the consistency of it. No huge mood swings, no dark states of 'fear' and self loathing. Energy levels remain steady so I can count on being 'able' for a few hours hiking or whatever.

I also love learning about the real me. It's so hard to explain this but when you stop drinking, you realise that the drinking you, was not the real you at all. Somehow drinking shoehorns you into certain patterns of behaviour that really don't reflect who you are at all.

Then when you quit, you learn all about yourself, fresh new discoveries. What you really like and what you don't. It's great. Like being a stranger in a wonderful new land, in technicolour, dolby surround sound, Alice in Wonderland.

iusedtoknow · 25-03-2015 4:09pm

I love being the dependable on. Just last night, a friend living in the North bay of San Francisco needed to leave her apartment quick due to land lord issues. She called me and I was in the car in5 minutes and on the way collected another friend (as the muscle) before getting her out safely and back to our place. This was 9pm and if I was a drinker, the odds were I'd have had a couple of beers by then and be unable to drive or stupid enough to think that I could

Abcxyz12345 · 28-03-2015 11:32am

I love remembering! Blacking out was a huge part of my drinking & I was tormented the following day not knowing what I had done. Sometimes Id do off-the-wall stuff that put me at serious risk of harm but other times it wouldn't be as crazy - maybe be asleep in toilets in bar - but either way the feelings of shame, anxiety, depression & fear tormented me the next day. Ugh!!! I love not having that in my life

28-03-2015 5:37pm

Dermighty wrote: »

Does anyone not drink regularly but still feel that they've an issue with alcohol?

I haven't drank in 15 months and it is so much easier now to be at a function and not drink alcohol. I honestly do not miss it - and that was one of my major concerns when I gave up. I even went down to the off licence last week and bought a mountain of alcohol for a party and was not tempted to drink any. Buying it was a surreal experience, and not threatening. I could not have said that a year ago. Time heals.

Having said that, as contradictory as it might sound I know that if I were to start drinking again there would be no end to my desire for it. Instead of drinking alcohol to excess, I've shifted whatever deep-down thing is going on into eating bad food to excess. Same mentality, different target, so huge improvement but not much at the same time. I wish I could just know how to get the underlying motivation for knocking myself out with excess sorted and move on to living a healthier, balanced life.

Rickamania1 · 03-04-2015 12:58pm

I only started drinking age 23 and a half. Used to be part of the Non Drinkers group. That's all changed now. Takes a decent hit on the bank balance.

househero · 03-04-2015 1:03pm

I love treating my body as a temple.
Living inside my body is a much nicer place to be now.

Since quitting

I love not fighting anybody close enough
I love not being anxious
I love the taste of food
I love looking great
I love having a huge sex drive
I love remembering things when I need to
I love not vomiting
I love not thinking I was charming when in reality I was being a tw@t
I love not having to be in the company of other tw@ts that think they are charming and funny
I love not being depressed
I love laughing at other drunk people
I love doing exciting things
I love not thinking... what time is it OK to start drinking again
I love not wanting to smoke
I love other motivated people that don't drink
I love being fertile
I love not being a looser
I love having a good job
I love being first in line for promotions
I love having a big house
I love being healthy
I love not questionning myself
I love my life and what I have been blessed with

crestglan · 07-04-2015 4:48pm

I have never drank much as a teenager all my friends did, as i got older i just never bothered but when i go out with my friends I enjoy myself just as much as them I especially love watching all the stupid things they do and letting them know the next day

Kunkka · 14-04-2015 9:53pm

I love that my main focus in life isn't when or how I will get pissed. It's so much more now I don't know how I had time to drink at all.

hubba · 22-04-2015 12:48pm

I no longer have to live this out ....

http://www.fastcocreate.com/3039010/this-animated-short-cleverly-reveals-the-truth-about-addiction-and-its-devastating

Kunkka · 25-04-2015 11:32am

hubba wrote: »

I no longer have to live this out ....

http://www.fastcocreate.com/3039010/this-animated-short-cleverly-reveals-the-truth-about-addiction-and-its-devastating

So simple and brilliant.

James Delaney · 25-04-2015 1:11pm

Sounds like u ave a really good life. Ur completely happy with urself - how many people can say that - Ur Very Lucjy - wekk done.
Ur an inspiration.

James Delaney · 25-04-2015 1:11pm

Sounds like u ave a really good life. Ur completely happy with urself - how many people can say that - Ur Very Lucjy - wekk done.
Ur an inspiration.

valoren · 27-04-2015 3:09pm

hubba wrote: »

I no longer have to live this out ....

http://www.fastcocreate.com/3039010/this-animated-short-cleverly-reveals-the-truth-about-addiction-and-its-devastating

That moment in the darkness when the bird looks back and up towards the sky, longing for the high it can't get anymore but totally dependent on the 'nugget'.

FortySeven · 04-07-2015 11:37pm

Finally getting to know who I really am.

Excellent animation.

Sunnyisland · 16-07-2015 5:01am

Living the life loving the life .

Kunkka · 20-07-2015 5:17pm

Being relaxed about stuff that used to have me really anxious. Addressing stuff without wanting to avoid it

dwayneshintzy · 23-07-2015 11:05pm

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 · 18-08-2015 6:08pm

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

MilesMorales1 · 19-08-2015 7:09pm

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 · 20-08-2015 7:21pm

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 · 21-08-2015 3:06pm

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 · 21-08-2015 3:13pm

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 · 13-09-2015 3:27pm

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

Sunnyisland · 23-10-2015 9:20pm

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

Abcxyz12345 · 23-10-2015 9:34pm

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 · 28-12-2015 10:44am

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 · 20-02-2016 10:46am

Still free still happy :-)

Laeot · 27-03-2016 8:08pm

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

The flying mouse · 23-06-2016 9:01am

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 · 05-08-2016 11:46am

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

Kiltris · 05-08-2016 2:14pm

Productive weekends!

Extra cash!

Loads of energy!

NO anxiety!

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

The Bishop Basher · 05-08-2016 2:33pm

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 · 17-08-2016 8:04am

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 · 21-08-2016 8:50am

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

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

hubba · 23-08-2016 9:46pm

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 · 23-08-2016 10:33pm

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 :-)

What do you love about your AF or non drinkers life

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