Im not going to drink any alcohol for the month of February. Im doing so not out of concern for prior drinking habits, but as an experiement in self analysis and observation. Im somewhat familiar with the nature of addiction, and its valuable to see how alcohol fits in to my life. Sometimes its easier to see how something works when contrasted with its absence.
My mother is performing this same experiement, and its great to have someone to share observations with. Here are some observations thus far:
February 1st was a hard day, as I had received some depressing news about my fathers health. I had already had a difficult day at the office, and Michelle and a number of our friends had plans to have dinner that night. I really wanted a glass of scotch when I got home. Later on that night, I was the designated driver and although I had a good time with our friends, I was pretty eager to say good night and leave after a few hours. This could have been due to the fact that I had already had a long workday, and the day after was a workday as well. The conversation with friends got silly, but I wasn't bored with them in the least. I was just tired. It was amazing driving home from the restaurant without any buzz or impaired motor control. I realized just how often I got behind the wheel after a few drinks. Pretty interesting.
Its feb 3rd and Im feeling strong. Great workouts in the gym, and a very clear head. I miss an afternoon beer with my weekend lunch.
