The Thought Difference of a Year…

I was trying to find something fun and kitschy to blog about on this Friday afternoon. I was scrolling back through my pictures to this time last year. I was going to post a picture of me on a cruise double-fisting it with two Coronas, but then came across this comic strip. I love the guy who created these characters and I adore how they “speak”.

It took me a moment to “get” what they were going on about. The “mild poison”. Then it hit me. They’re at the bar. Last year I found this absolutely hilarious. And, in some ways, I still do. It doesn’t offend me, and I’m sure there are a bunch of sober folks that will be offended that I’m not all that offended.

But, it brings to light just how mainstream alcohol is in our global society – and universe if you’re following these little guys. And, that they’re actually calling it “poison” – which it is. And, how much more mainstream it has become during this pandemic.

Women and men alike drinking their sorrows, their stress, their time they’d otherwise be spending with their families or friends out amongst other folks, intermingling, being active, and getting fresh air. They have been affected by keeping up with their full time jobs that now seem to have no start or end times, homeschooling (what is common core anyway?), being chefs creating meal after meal and hunted down for snacks that no-one can see sitting right in front of them. The dog and cat sitter, the doctor, and, everything else under the sun that the household needs. Women have turned to “wine time” which has moved from 6PM to 3:30 or 4PM. Men have turned to “beer me” just as early.

How do we turn this epidemic on its head? How do we help those that are silently struggling with their alcohol consumption?  How do we help those that had habits that are now slowly turning to abuse?

Not everyone gets or is addicted. Not everyone has an issue. But, there’s more of us out there than there needs to be. The continued bombardment of commercials, shows, and new confounded beers, wines, and liquors keeps us coming back for more and keeps us from the ever so terrifying “FOMO”.

What are really missing out on anyway? The hangover? The blackouts? The stupid non-filtered words that end up coming out of our mouths? The bruises we wake up with that we have no clue where they came from? For those that are struggling, I implore you… you are missing out on much more being sober than using the bottle to drown out the slog of every day pandemic life.

I wouldn’t have rediscovered my moxie. I wouldn’t have decided I needed to get my certifications in recovery coaching and corporate facilitation. I wouldn’t have realized this absolute zest for life that I had been missing out on for the past 11 years.

So, while I adore these little aliens, I do not adore the drink they find ever allusive. Not anymore.

If you think you are struggling with a little too much drink, or know deep in your soul you really need to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol, go for it. You may feel the FOMO for a little while, but once you find your moxie and yourself again, you’ll have no “FO” anymore.