Relative Something

I would like to re-visit a post I created almost 2 years ago, on the subject of abstinence from alcohol, sharing it here again today. I am lucky to enjoy pretty limited exposure to situations that include other people drinking to a point of becoming a bit too chatty and inaccurate, beginning to slur their words a bit. On the unlucky occasions when I do find myself stuck in such a situation, I find that I end up with my own version of a hangover. It is the residual discomfort that lingers for a day or few, left from the angst I experience in such moments. The person’s true spirit seems to vanish in the situation, and a milky stranger takes possession, blaring the pall of their artificial joviality to everyone in earshot, whether welcomed, or not.

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From December, 2010.

I love everything about abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
I love the freedom to choose to be totally wild, crazy, and silly at (mostly) appropriate times, with the equal ability to employ my maximum acuity in a moments notice.
I love partying in the company of my sober friends.
I love the absence of alcohol-induced melodrama.
I love that sobriety doesn’t have to be kept away from children.
I love that sobriety isn’t banned from the workplace.
I love that it isn’t against the law to drive sober.
I love that I don’t have the expense of purchasing alcohol.
I love that I never care whether alcohol is served at any event I attend.
I love that the absence of alcohol will never keep me from attending any event.
I love that not allowing myself the health benefits reportedly available from moderate consumption of alcohol has yet to cause me any ill effects.
I love that the practice of abstaining from alcoholic beverages is referred to as teetotalism, a movement that was first started in Preston, England in the early 19th century.
I love learning of notable others who are teetotalers, such as the voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta, and the current Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden.
I love not needing to battle the dehydration caused by alcohol, especially since I have enough trouble maintaining optimal hydration sans the ethanol.
I love that my friends and family never need to question whether I am intoxicated, or not.
I love that my friends and family never need to worry about the possibility that I may drive drunk.
I love never needing to think about whether I have enough food in my stomach to slow the absorption of alcohol into my cells.
I love never having the urge to drink more than one glass of anything other than water when in social situations
I love having control over my speech and balance.
I love the absence of recovery facilities aimed at helping people overcome problems with their sobriety.
I love behaving with decency in the presence of law enforcement officials performing their duties to uphold the law.
I love being aware of how I behaved the night before.
I love that the beverages I drink allow me to maintain peaceful behavior, even if I drink too much. Granted, I may appear brusque in my urgency to reach the rest room.
I love everything about abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
More and more, I find I dearly love the company of others who choose abstinence, as well.

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