One Big Weekend!

Since embarking on my AF journey, I have often been asked, could you not just have a few? To which the answer is yes, to the surprise of some! Of course, I’ve already been open about my susceptibility to going ‘all in’ and taking things too far, but there were also times where I would feel I got the balance just right. The difference now is that drinking on those nights doesn’t appeal to me anymore. While missing out on the perceived escapism associated with the all day session might, admittedly, still give me the odd pang of sadness, the ‘casual few’ has lost its appeal completely. It was a ‘big’ weekend recently that helped to reaffirm this. 

Some people, when they go AF, discover an introverted side of themselves that the alcohol was masking, but I don’t think that’s the case with me. Socialising is still something that I need in my life and that weekend left me feeling positive about the number of social occasions that don’t require alcohol to be enjoyed. Going out both Saturday and Friday night is a bit of a collectors item these days and takes a bit of effort. However, once we got there we soon settled in. On both nights, I talked for hours with friends, laughed and even drank pints of draught 0% lager, just as I would have done had the % in the glass been higher. It could be argued that I would have felt a deeper sense of relaxation for those couple of hours if I kept topped up with alcohol, but, for me, the net gain on physical and mental health would certainly have been negative.

Yesteryear, the promise of an exciting impromptu night would always be lurking, adding to the anticipation even before I would take that first drink. Nowadays that promise and excitement lies both in being present in the moment; and also knowing that I will be there in the morning, present again, and ready to give it my best. So, the question now is less about whether I can have a few and more about asking why would I want to? When I’m in good company, feeling connected and able to unwind still exists without the alcohol. That’s why, for me, choosing AF on these nights really doesn’t feel anything like a sacrifice anymore.

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