Why Not Give Dry January a go? — It’s not too late to jump in now.
I wasn’t interested in taking part in Dry January as I knew I’d fail — I’d have proved myself a loser.
About 20 years ago, my best friend and I were invited to a neighbor’s for dinner. He had asked another friend — and the four of us had a lovely dinner and stimulating conversation.
Rich participated in Dry January — something the San Francisco firemen did yearly. It wasn’t the big deal it is today where folks worldwide join in this event.
Rich was mid-way through the challenge and saying he felt great.
I did not get the point. If one enjoys drinking and does not overdo it — why bother abstaining for a month and going back to alcohol on February 1?
I proceeded to tempt him into making an exception that night so he could enjoy a drink along with the three of us partaking in the lovely wine we were sharing. Absolutely no way, nadda, uh uh, was his reply.
He had committed himself, and he was following through with it.
What a crutch the wine was. It gave me courage. It made me more sociable, funnier, a witty conversationalist. At least I thought so.
I also believed I needed this stimulant to boost my confidence while chatting with Rich’s handsome friend. A couple of glasses in, this proved to be a misinformed thought.
I wasn’t exactly intoxicated, but I was past the point of being “charming.”
Have you ever given Dry January a try? Are you giving it a go this year?
My attitude about it has changed since attaining sobriety. Any break from alcohol is a good idea, whether long-lasting or short-term.
A 30-day respite from alcohol gives one the chance to see how great it is to wake up clear-headed without the possible hang-over that often follows a night of imbibing.
According to Dr. George F. Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:
Participating in Dry January can be a great way to learn more about your drinking habits, which can help you make healthier choices moving forward…At the very least, taking a break from alcohol gives a person a chance to evaluate their relationship with alcohol and cultivate alternatives for relaxing, socializing, coping and other reasons why people drink.
I love the last part — cultivating alternatives for relaxing, socializing, coping, and others reason why people drink.
Frequently, people drink out of habit — it’s just what we do when socializing, stressed, or having a relaxing evening with loved ones. And we rarely give it a second thought.
Allowing the liver, pancreas, heart, nervous system, and kidneys a much-needed rest is another benefit of a 30-day break from drinking. Alcohol stresses and is highly toxic to these organs that we count on continually.
I could not imagine going without alcohol for an entire month during the years I drank.
Now that I have over three years of sobriety and know first-hand the benefits and joy of not drinking — I say, without hesitation — give Dry January a try.
With luck at your side — this could be the start of a new and exciting phase of your life.
I can’t think of a better way to start the new year.
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