Zero Day Achieved! I met my goal of a ‘0’ day in the face of a pair of addiction temptations.
The first of these came knocking when our house guest opened the fridge and inquired about a beer. Of course, we were out of beer. I drank it all the night before. Afterall, what better way to ensure a successful ‘0’ day than to make sure we were out of beer?
Of course, wanting to be a good host, I offered to run out to the liquor store and get some more. Part of me desperately wished she’d give me the excuse to restock while the quieter voice of reason desired the opposite. Fortunately, she declined. Addiction bullet numero uno dodged.
But, as fate would have it, I wouldn’t get off so easy.
Later that evening, we experienced an issue with one of the showers knobs. The water wouldn’t stay shut off regardless of how many times I pushed the knob in. Each time, it would slowly pop back out and the bathtub faucet would come on full blast. The stem valve had gone bad. I’d need to call my plumber.
In the meantime, I shut the main water supply off knowing I’d have to run out to the Rite Aid and pick up some duct tape. I hoped that if I taped the knob down, it would be enough to resist the water pressure.
On my way out the door, I asked if anyone needed anything. Our guest asked if we “had any alcohol”. My wife responded, “No” and instructed me to pick up a bottle of red wine. And with that, I was off to face my addiction demons once again in the liquor aisle of Rite Aid.
“At least she didn’t ask me to pick up any beer,” I thought to myself as I grabbed the car keys and drove the 1.5 pine wooded miles to the store. Five minutes later, I shifted the car into park and headed in. I was a man on a mission.
Find the duct tape. Get the wine. Get out!
I beelined it for the hardware aisle since it was at the opposite end of the store from the liquor, and grabbed one of the last two rolls of duct tape. Then, I tentatively made my way over to the liquor section, careful to avoid the refrigerated beer for fear of stirring up any addiction demons. You see, while wine is tempting, I’m really a beer snob by nature.
I quickly located my wife’s favorite Cabernet. Snagging a bottle, I raced to the checkout counter with only this and a single roll of duct tape.
I’m certain, based on the look on the clerk’s face, he was wondering what I had on tap for the evening. Sadly, it was nothing like I suspect he was imagining. But who am I to dampen the fantasies of a lonely Rite Aid employee? Just buying some wine and duct tape. Nothing to see here!
The Cabernet rode home shotgun while I second guessed my not buying myself a six pack when I had the chance. But what was done was done and I was determined to make this ‘0’ day work. Afterall, it was after 8pm and I was sooooooo close. Just a couple more hours…
Back home, I expertly “repaired” the stubborn faucet with no less than a dozen strips of silver duct tape while the ladies enjoyed their wine. In an effort to distract myself, I spent the next several hours alone in another room fidgeting with my phone, addiction demons dodged. Tomorrow begins another day.
Daily meditation wisdom I used to overcome the addiction demons today: Our meditation practice is to be aware of what’s going on as soon as we can. It takes effort to not hold on to our caughtness (addiction). But with practice, the caughtness doesn’t stay as long. We know we’re caught, and in knowing, the constriction loosens.
– Charlotte Joko Beck, Ordinary Wonder
