“Don’t talk, act. Don’t say, show. Don’t promise, prove.”
The Other People In My Life Won’t Quit Drinking, They Still Drink!
I can relate to this one. I think everyone who has ever quit alcohol can. When I quit I really wanted everyone around me to quit as well, all my family, friends, and anyone I met. I really wanted the whole world to see sense in what they were doing and quit this vile poison. I think for the first few months I must have been an absolute pain in the arse for everyone that knew me.
Nothing really changed. The only person I have convinced to quit was my dad, and that was after he’d had a pretty bad heart attack. He hasn’t touched a drop since. People do drink less around me and I think I am getting people to think about their health a bit more.
My point is that you can only take the reins of your own life, you can’t make the decision for anyone else. Esther, my partner, still drinks. She was never a heavy drinker but the booze is still in my house. She drinks what used to be one of my favourites as well, Rioja and often speaks about how she’d love a pint of Guinness. When I go to family meals, there are the drinkers and the non-drinkers. I can’t do anything about them. I can only really influence what goes inside my own body, the direction I want my life to take, and hope that it doesn’t negatively interfere too much with the lives of those around me.
We are surrounded by alcohol, it’s part of the society we live in. All we can do is take mastery of ourselves and refuse to take part. It’s difficult in the beginning, but you will get stronger and stronger the more time and distance you put between yourself and your own drinking. Concentrate on yourself first. Others will follow, if slowly, once they see what an impact not drinking is making on your life.
“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer
Until next time…
Onwards and Upwards!
It’s strange really Kevin as I have stopped drinking three times now. First time for eighteen months, then nine months and then six months, all with around 6 months in between. I find it very easy to stop but for no reason I start again. Any thoughts ?
I think you have to have a big goal to aim towards in your life, something that prevents you from going back on the booze. Your life changes quickly to aiming forwards and you don’t want to go backwards.
Hi Kevin, I´m going through the same kind of cycle as Tim. So I am curious what your bigger goal in life is… I think the big question behind it all is: can you ever leave the alcohol issue behind you for good. I don´t want to count alcohol free days and keep having discussions with myself in bars and restaurants about drinking or not. Is it possible to quit without having second thoughts about it at all?
I talk about this in an upcoming video. My furthest goal is to know that when I’m at my final day, I haven’t been the author of my own demise. We all have second thoughts… and third, fourth, etc. Habits can last a lifetime. The shadow of our previous habits still lingers for a lot longer than we would like, but it’s only a memory, no need to act it out.