‘I don’t have cancer, I’m staying abstinent’

One of my substitudes for alcoholic beverages.

One of my substitudes for alcoholic beverages.

Well time for the first update during my sobriety challenge. Today is day 12 of total abstinence. So far I didn’t really feel the need to consume alcohol or cigarettes. Sure there were moments when I liked to have a beer. For example when my housemates started to get tipsy and developed a sense of humor that was slightly different than mine at that moment. But in general it wasn’t all that hard to not drink. Still the reactions of many friends were both touching and funny. ‘Stay strong’, ‘You can do it, I believe in you’. Guys, thanks a lot, but I am not dying of cancer, I just stopped drinking for a while. Not a big deal really.

So far the experiment is interesting enough. Apparently some people are really worried about my general alcohol consumption. Well, I was never a big fan of making a big fuzz about heavy drinking. Everyone that does should watch the Southpark-episode Bloody Mary from season 9. In a way like only they can, they point out that Alcoholics Anonymous is a cult and people shouldn’t jump to extreme conclusions whenever someone enjoys a good drink once in a while. At Lords of the Drinks we have always lived by two rules: never drink alone and never let alcohol be your only interest. We are into nature, history, sports, art, politics, you name it. We just believe that all of these things can be enjoyed even better with alcohol. Sadly a lot of people only see that last part.

Anyway, the first 11 days were easy. Actually I have to give some credits to the people who claim it’s best not to drink at all since I have far more energy than normal. I sleep only 4 to 6 hours and still I’m jumping around all day. But on the downside, being sober all the time is actually quite boring. So it’s clear this is not the way I want to live in the long run.

Also I now set myself a new goal during my experiment: quit smoking completely. We explained to you why alcohol and cigarettes go so well together and like many others I am one of those people who only smokes when he drinks. From experience I know it’s easier to keep myself from smoking when I’m on a streak. So I’m positive that even if I start drinking again soon, I will still leave the tobacco. Or maybe I decide to smoke anyway, just as I decide myself when I want to drink again. Cause we are able to decide for ourselves – without any cult – if we want to drink or not.

Micky Bumbar

13 thoughts on “‘I don’t have cancer, I’m staying abstinent’

  1. I was a smoker for 22 years. Cigarettes were extremely difficult for me to give up. However, I never really had the alcohol to trigger the urge to smoke since I quit. Good luck with your challenge!

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    • Thanks a lot. Actually I quitted smoking 3 times before in my life. Like in no smoking at all. But each time (2 times after a year, once after 8 months) I got bored with non-smoking and decided to pick it up again. I can easily picture a life without smoking in the long run, but drinking most certainly not haha
      Cheers,
      Micky

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  2. I quit smoking 3 days after I quit drinking. I tried to smoke, I’d light up and take a few puffs before throwing it out. I usually smoked when I drank, which was everyday. I only smoked for a year and have found quitting rather easy. Not drinking is what’s killing me. I feel the same way, sober life is boring. Or maybe I’m just not trying hard enough. When I drank I could sit in a chair all night and have a blast. Sitting in a chair sober, is not a blast lol. I played beer pong at a party last night and ended up being undefeated (so being sober might have been cheating) but it was way more fun to join in than to sit on the sideline and watch everyone else be drunk. Find new things to excite your sober self! Try something you’ve never done before!

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    • Well…. You are right, you shouldn’t stay away from the party just because you don’t drink. I can still enjoy people’s company and go crazy on the dance floor, although with alcohol it’s still more fun. But I thank God I have a pretty interesting life really, sober or drunk. So I’m not really in a black hole now that I’m not drinking haha
      Cheers,
      Micky

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  3. Obviously you have a problem with alcohol. AA is not a cult. And if you are going to refer to Alcoholics Anonymous in posts, maybe get the spelling correct. Good luck with the challenge though.

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  4. If blackouts, hangover cures, car crashes, waking up in strange places and South Park ideology is your idea of enjoyment…by all means, tap another keg. AA helps millions of people who are alcoholics. Is AA a cult because writer’s of South Park say so OR because you actually went to an AA meeting and they brainwashed you? BTW the correct spelling is ‘editing’ and ‘whiskey’. Stay in school, you won’t regret it 🙂

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    • Whisky and whiskey are both possible! But I’m starting to dislike your tone Sara. I have a serious problem with people treating drinkers as outcast. The whole idea that you have to be sober to be taken serious bloows. The past learned us that plenty of important people in history were actually huge drunks. It’s only natural to drink. If you don’t want to that’s also fine, but don’t give us your crap! Drinkers are the backbone of society and supply society with creative ideas!

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  5. I agree with you that history has taught and we have learned that many creative people are drunks. I count myself as one of them. I just don’t agree with your take on AA, and am curious how you arrived at the conclusion that AA is a cult. From personal experience or from a TV show? I don’t have a problem with drinkers. I feel sorry for the ones that become addicted and alcohol ruins their lives. And if car crashes and blackouts become a part of your life then it might be time to examine if alcohol is hurting or helping your life. Personal experience with alcohol has taught me that its best if I do not drink, because it makes me dumb. Alcohol is a powerful substance, and this a forum where you welcome replies on the topic. But you still haven’t answered the question. What makes AA a cult?

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    • Fair enough, I must honestly admit that I haven’t been to any meetings myself. However I did hear from the experiences of people that did who got screwed up way worse than they were before and on the booze. I am actually quite curious and maybe I should go there, even if just once. Still I believe that if one wants to quit, he or she should just do it. The extreme cases that are physically adicted aside, this is just possible. It’s too easy to see yourself as a powerless victim, we plan our own life!

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  6. AA meetings are a very interesting way to spend 1 hour. Similar to a bar, people talk, smoke and drink unspiked coffee. Go to an open meeting, closed meeting are for self-admitting alcoholics. Just a bunch of drunks having fun, exploring different life topics and helping one another. The only difference is I no longer wake up wondering where my car, keys, phone, and money went. #drinkresponsibly 🙂

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