Hi all,
This morning made me think about the question of examples of stuff I’ve enjoyed more sober that I would have usually been drunk for.
WHAT HAPPENED
Just watched the Tyson Fury Vs Wilder 2 fight.
I set my alarm as the fight was starting at 5 am.
Woke up made a cup of tea and toasted some fruit loaf.
Sat watched it enjoyed the fight and all the post fight discussion.
Now I’m going to get showered, walk the dog and enjoy a day with the family.
IF I WAS DRINKING
If I was drinking I would have been out all night drunk as hell. I would have probably done coke. Tried to find a house party to watch it or a late night pub.
I would have stayed up all night be coming home to my beautiful boys and wife with my wife getting me upstairs without the kids seeing me.
Today I would have been in bed not sleeping properly with my mind racing and my heart pounding. Today would be a write off and I’d be going to work tomorrow all over the place trying to put a brave face on. Tuesday, Wednesday I would be totally depressed.
Anyone got some good examples of stuff they have done sober that they would have usually been high for and particularly stuff that people associate with drinking and partying?
I feel it! I actually enjoy my days because I am not drunk and sober so last evening, its saturday at 7pm id start drinking, id be drunk by 10, then at midnight id be eating unhealthy bar food, drink again till bar closed, go to bed not sleep well, then go to work hung over. Instead! I went hiking, went to a coffee shop, finally worked on a cross stitching that i bought months ago, applied to 3 jobs, catched up with an old friend, then read a book before bed! Its amazing what you accomplish when you are not drunk and how much you actually enjoy your day sober!!!
I am working on mindfulness, my anger management and general mental health. These are issues I could not work on because booze in my life meant I was constantly fire fighting.
I’m back at the gym working on getting fit again. Hopefully when I feel more comfortable stuff like hiking, adventure holidays, fun runs etc will be challenges to aim for.
Life!
I enjoy life so much better sober.
I’m able to get up in the morning and go for a run.
I’m able to go to concerts, and remember them, and drive home afterwards.
So much more
So
Yeah…life!
Ye just in general Geoff I get that mate ‘choose life’ .
I was just thinking how watching the boxing would usually involve a mad night on the piss as I said above.
So was looking for any specific examples of something that people used to associate with drinking but now enjoy it more.
Good to speak to you btw I’m 150+ days sober now bud, only seems like yesterday that I was pouring my heart out after my last major blowout and you was offering support and guiding words.
My man and I are on our first sober non-hiking holiday and it was all pretty new. Some insecurities, some feeling inferior, like I was depriving him, on my part, but generally much less drama, less inner tormoil and I enjoyed things more intensively than I’d have in the past, always a glass of white wine in hand. We were just saying an hr ago, how we’ve both had a great time, got a lot done, excercised every morning, walked all day without being majorly exhausted (lol you’d think we’re in our 80s we are generally quite fit but with the amount of drinking I was doing, I’d feel mangled on and post holidays…!!), saw museums, I had to face a major crowd event, probably my first sober, yesterday supporting the Scottish rugby team in the stadium (and seeing our lads win! ) without booze to facilitate the social and general anxiety, and spend time together instead apart in our heads drunk, each living their own mental film story fantasie rush resentment whatever. It is rewarding but also difficult to be together all day trying to make each other happy, especially on holiday, which is supposed to be a special time. I learned a lot and practiced what I try to learn in everyday life, kindness, patience, not being so strict on us both, more and less successfully during this holiday. But I am thrilled and grateful to say I enjoyed it and myself more and better than on past city holidays. Greetings from Rome, you guys!
Great I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it. We did Rome last year which was the first time I’d drank in 10 months. Luckily it didn’t spoil it because we spent that much time touring there wasn’t time to drink.
Looking back now, having a lemonade in my hand instead of a pint of beer when sat outside a restaurant near the pantheon would not have made any difference apart from the removal of the internal fear that I was drinking again
Getting pulled over for speeding is way less anxiety inducing when I am sober.
Waking up in the morning… much more enjoyable sober.
Movies and TV shows…who knew you don’t have to watch them 3 or 4 times to remember what happens!
Driving is way more fun sober.
Dining out…love this sober!
Traveling on airplanes…much more fun sober and / or not hungover. Being on an airplane drunk sucks.
Popping into the store for a few items is way more fun sober…as opposed to slinking in drunk and adding booze to your order and trying to act straight (you are not fooling anyone but yourself).
Interacting with my parents and husband…much more fun sober…and arguments with my husband are no longer volatile or going nowhere and are actually (mostly) productive discussions instead of drunk fights.
Traveling and vacationing…I like remembering my days and nights and feeling rested and invigorated when I return home.
Working out…so so so much better not hungover.
Being with my grandson is one million times better sober.
Yeah mate, I remember. Good to see you going strong. As I said, gigs are definitely so much better sober.
No need to worry about remembering where the hotel is afterwards. Especially when the venue becomes a club and is open till god knows.
No it’s gig them home in bed as early as we can.
Keep up the good work buddy.
I’m enjoying sporting events and concerts more by being able to sit there and watch the whole thing and not having to get up and wait in line for beers. And then get up and wait in line to piss out the beers. I reckon I use to miss a third of the show waiting in line for booze and pisses. It’s actually kind of astounding watching how much beer some guys and gals put back at these sporting events and concerts. I’m now sitting back relaxing and enjoying the show.
And going out to dinner is so much less stressful when you don’t sit there wondering where that waiter is and why it’s taking so god darn long to get my drink. Or the drink don’t taste good. Or the tonic is flat. Or the margarita is too sweet. Or the martini is not cold enough.
Boy if this doesn’t sound like me to a t… Day 20, and I’ve yet to experience anything to crazy sober, but last night I hung out with some friends untill around 830 before they got to drink. And I did enjoy myself, and I’m waking up today guilt free… Now before like 3 weeks ago I did the same, and I blew 500 on coke, did it all to myself didn’t even share it. Ended up thinking I was horny so I messaged about every damn girl on my FB trying to hook up and said some stupid ass shit… And I didn’t even go to bed till ten the next morning and when I woke up, omg did I hate myself and I would just keep telling myself how stupid I am and kept thinking of all the better shit I could of spent my money on because now I was broke for the next two weeks. Other times I wouldn’t even need to go out, I’d just get my shit delivered to me. And I hatemyself for this one but would just do it upstairs and keep going up every ten minutes with the girls downstairs, and once they would go to bed, it was game over I get completely fucked up. And then the next morning I’d make the girls sleep all day bc I needed to sleep from staying up all night…god am I not even close to being proud to type that out:(… But I’m not going to let that happen again
Thats extremely important too, that self reflection is needed in order to heal. Im glad you are taking the time to focus on your mental health and I love that constantly fighting fire! Thats how I felt, I was an angry drunk and felt like I was at war with myself. I have been now focusing on self love and taking care of me and have fun getting back in shape! And wish you all the best on your sobriety, saying some prayers, God Bless you!
Way better sober, and its the sort of thing that damn near everyone drinks at. I find I am more into the match when not drinking, more attentive.
In my drinking years, the match would fly by and before I knew it, it was over and I had been more preoccupied with my next drink for most of it.
so last evening, its saturday at 7pm id start drinking, id be drunk by 10, then at midnight id be eating unhealthy bar food, drink again till bar closed, go to bed not sleep well, then go to work hung over. Instead! I went hiking, went to a coffee shop, finally worked on a cross stitching that i bought months ago, applied to 3 jobs, catched up with an old friend, then read a book before bed! Its amazing what you accomplish when you are not drunk and how much you actually enjoy your day sober!!!
.
we are generally quite fit but with the amount of drinking I was doing, I’d feel mangled on and post holidays…!!), saw museums, I had to face a major crowd event, probably my first sober, yesterday supporting the Scottish rugby team in the stadium (and seeing our lads win! 
) without booze to facilitate the social and general anxiety, and spend time together instead apart in our heads drunk, each living their own mental film story fantasie rush resentment whatever. It is rewarding but also difficult to be together all day trying to make each other happy, especially on holiday, which is supposed to be a special time. I learned a lot and practiced what I try to learn in everyday life, kindness, patience, not being so strict on us both, more and less successfully during this holiday. But I am thrilled and grateful to say I enjoyed it and myself more and better than on past city holidays. Greetings from Rome, you guys! 
