Since my shocking weigh in Tuesday morning, that annoying and once omnipresent alcoholic voice in the back of my mind (aka Drinkie) has piped down significantly. I’ve been using the method I laid out a couple days ago of exhaling the urge to drink into the vision of a white dove which I then release into the sky.
As soon as all those little birds disappear, so does Drinkie. Just like I’ve managed to do with other repetitive negative thoughts and oppressive emotions. The more repeat the technique the quieter and less frequent these unsavory voices become. I have to say, I’m quite enjoying my newly quieted mind.
Zero+ ; Quartet ; M: 129 ; C: 92 ; P/U: 50 ; W : 4 mi
Health R.O.S.
- Weight: 207.0
- BMI: 28.0
- Fat %: 21.3
Less & Less Drinking
In the past 19 days, there’s only been a single drinking slip up. And after today, it’ll be one in 20.
If you consider that back in July, a mere three months ago, I was binge drinking 5+ nights a week and smoking weed basically everyday, there’s been undeniably positive forward progress.
Well I may not be perfect with the alcohol (though I’ve had nothing but beer since July, and a hell of a lot less of that), I haven’t smoked pot (or eaten it) in 92 days. Even better, I never think about it anymore. On the rare occasions I find myself in its presence or am offered a hit of pot, it is quite easy for me to say, ‘no’. ‘Smokie’ has quite literally left the building. Thank you, mindfulness meditation!
Reconnecting With Old Friends
Yesterday I checked in on a good friend who’s been confined to a wheelchair since a botched spinal cord surgery back in 2015. He just survived Hurricane Ian in Florida following on the heels of his older sister’s passing. He was visiting her when she unexpectedly left us. Now he’s stuck in Florida dealing with her estate. The poor guy has had a pretty rough go of it the last seven years. I do my best to check in on him as often as I can. I’d love to see him back here in Cali so we can jam again.
I was also very fortunate to reconnect with a dear old friend with whom I hadn’t had any meaningful contact since before covid. We talked on the phone for over three hours. It turns out that she was struggling with alcohol, too. Like me, she has turned to mindfulness meditation to cope with it and her recent divorce. She shared with me that her ex also has a major drinking problem. He recently wrapped his truck around a tree while driving drunk. Fortunately, he’s okay, but the truck is totaled and his license suspended. He’s still driving anyway. Can you say collision course?
It’s nice to have re established contact. She and I are sharing book recommendations, and I’ll be reviewing those on this blog as I get through them. I’ve managed to finish two by Ryan Holiday: Stillness is the Key & Ego is the Enemy. The Obstacle is the Way is the next one on my list. So, far I’m really enjoying his modern take on stoicism.
My biggest challenge now is balancing updating this blog with my daily sobriety journal, finishing 19 book reviews (I’m reading 1-2 books a week), and staying on top of my full time job and family obligations.
But, I’ve discovered that not drinking and smoking pot everyday sure frees up a lot of time and energy for other things! I can do all of the above and still have time to catch up with old friends, play my guitar, watch the occasional football game, maintain my morning routine, and garden.
Go figure.
On to a Nickel.
