Why I stopped drinking alcohol
27 impactful reasons
Here’s some reasons why I stopped drinking. These were written over 10 years ago, way before I actually decided to quit drinking. But the truth is, it’s important to keep your reasons — they become your motives. Whether they’re irrelevant now or not isn’t important, I felt the at the time and making this sort of list was important — and it might be important for anyone whose considering quitting alcohol too. How is alcohol actually affecting your life? Can you be honest about its impact?
- So that when I get a weekend off, I really do get a weekend off where I can relax — not one where I worry about having to go back to work tired on the Monday. Maybe this will always happen, but I want to know I’ve done everything I can to rest.
- So that I can be at home at 10 o’clock at night on a Sunday and have the want and will to do the things that need to be done before the Monday comes. Maybe even earlier.
- So that if I feel like going to a pub anywhere I like, I can, and then I can drive home without worrying about being over the limit.
- So that I can have an event planned early on a Sunday Morning and not have to be pissed-off that I can’t drink the night before.
- So that I can go and do a 60-mile cycle ride without the need to drink 5 pints to celebrate it after and wake up feeling like shit; rather than satisfied.
- When I am on a tight budget, I can make sure that there is enough there for the important things.
- When things hurt, I can feel the pain. I won’t need to mask it, it means that I can deal with the pain rather than blocking it out.
- I don’t feel tired anymore. I look on the train and see those who are struggling to keep their eyes open and it’s not me.
- You drink to fill time, when you stop it takes you a while to figure out what you are supposed to do with that time; once you figure it out though it is like being reborn.
- I can start to do the things that I want to do in life; the things I usually reserve for telling people when I am little pissed. I’ve found true confidence.
- I don’t need to escape anymore; I understand that no rest or new world will ever be found at the bottom of a bottle; the world I want is here. It is made as it is and as much as I think it should be changed, I will never change it.
- I have to create my own challenges in life: Things such as getting up, making a coffee and eating breakfast are no longer challenges to me.
- Sometimes I really don’t know; it is hard, but imagine how hard it would be if I was drinking, I would just want another one.
- So that I can get out of debt.
- So I can stop being an idiot.
- So I can find a girlfriend I like! Not one that just seems to be there.
- It took a while to get to this one but; I don’t have hangovers anymore.
- I can wake up smiling.
- The day is the day — no need to get away.
- There is less recycling.
- I save money so that I can buy nice food instead.
- So that I don’t drink to stop my mind thinking of the things it doesn’t want to think about.
- So I could give up smoking; they go together, you know they do.
- I am a nicer person to such an extent that people are surprised by who they see; no I am sober enough to set about trying to regain everyone’s trust again.
- I don’t have to think when my next release is going to be; I no longer need to release.
- I am not miserable; nor do I impose such misery on others.
- So that I can respond to people in kind way.
On my journey to becoming an artist and thoroughly enjoying the ups and downs. Visit my website & sign up to my newsletter to be kept up to date on my upcoming exhibitions and launches.