Musings on America’s Favorite Drug | Alcohol and its insidious ways
Freedom v. Sober
I am living a life of freedom. Freedom from alcohol. I prefer not to use the term Sober. The word sober carries baggage. It makes me feel as if there is something wrong with me, a label that makes me completely avoidable. There’s nothing wrong with me or anyone else who makes the choice to not drink alcohol, or choose to not feel hungover, have blackouts, fry brain cells, experience high blood pressure, or inflame the body. Quite the opposite. If I choose to drink alcohol, to use the #1 drug in the country (maybe caffeine is tops, but they are equal to me) I am a person who has a level of self-worth that transcends the need to fit in or the need to numb my feelings. {I can say this today. There have been hundreds of days I have not been able to say this, sadly enough}.
Why aren’t you drinking?
When was the last time you attended a social function and someone asked, “why are you drinking?” Instead, you’re asked, “Why are you not drinking?” There must be some reason for it. Pregnant? Preparing for surgery? Taking pharmaceuticals that don’t play well with alcohol? Surely it’s not because you love your brain, your body and prefer to have a clear mind 24/7. That would be strange, right?
Can we talk Marketing?
Marketing exists for one reason— to sell you something. Whether it’s children’s toys, candy cereal, paper towels, car insurance or alcohol there is little value placed on you, the consumer, when it comes to marketing. Getting you hooked so you will return over and over is the goal of marketing.
Adverts for alcohol never show the reality, you know, the day after. The puffy face. The broken relationships, the pain. They sell using ads of shiny happy people, laughing, smiling and dancing. These agencies, and alcohol has a lot of money and uses top advertising agencies, must show a return on the brand’s investment. Sales are the highest priority, and the sales need to increase year over year. Month over month. Day over day. There is a great deal of pressure from many sides to sell more alcohol. It’s an easy sell because when you take your first sip, all the good chemical reactions happen and you are being trained to keep coming back. And in your human brain, you think, wow, that feels good, I want more!
Marketers know how to tap into your thoughts. Marketing is all about human psychology. Tapping into your low self-worth. Your need to belong. Your need to numb out from your day. And you want to numb out because life is fucking hard. So you drink.
The Life You’ve Built Around Alcohol
So you think you might want to try the Free Life. But how? This is one of the most difficult parts of your Dharma Adventure. When you finally decide enough is enough, you have to find ways to find something else to grab at Happy Hour. And whoa! It’s not easy. You may have to remove your friends from your life so you can begin to build new relationships that don’t need alcohol in order to function. Who will you talk to at the party when everyone else is slurring their speech and talking so loudly? Your partner drinks alcohol and it’s all in the house? Yeah, I know. It’s not easy. The more experiences you have with others living the Free Life, the easier it will become.
Hang In There
You will probably go back to drinking multiple times, but I know you will get to the point that enough is enough and you will finally put yourself before all others and lean into your self-worth so heavily that nothing can push you back. I have faith in you, and I am here for you. {Seriously, use the contact form and reach out if you don’t already have my info}!
Resources for you!
Instagram: @Dropthebottle @reframeapp
Alternative drinks:
Curious Elixirs, Athletic Brewing, Seedlip are my favorites.