RE: Danger in Vice
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It's hilarious how some new "snake oil" remedy pops up every so often with miraculous claims. I think alcohol is among the slipperiest of "vices" in our society. It's so easy to normalize and rationalize overindulging.
When I was a teenager in the 1980's and alcohol permeated every aspect of American society. When we were kids my Dad gave my brother and I little glasses of beer from time to time growing up so it was never forbidden fruit. This was unconventional here in the US because most parents had strict rules against it.
A childhood friend and I were being served in a neighborhood bar at 15. The first drink I ordered in that bar was a "Roman Coke" because I misheard some old guy in the same bar order a "rum and Coke". Lol. We also had a few liquor stores that would knowingly sell us alcohol when we were underage (15-20). Still, I managed to survive my younger years without what would be considered a destructive alcohol habit. I am among the lucky who can stop at one or two drinks.
I started having a glass or two of red wine with dinner in the mid-nineties and have continued that through to today. The only times in my life where I feel I've treaded dangerous territory with alcohol were times when I surrounded myself with other people who were heavy drinkers. I overindulged then because over time it started to feel "normal" and sometimes being drunk was the only way I didn't feel bored when we hung out. I also had a super stressful job and would drink more to try to escape from the anxiety surrounding it. After a few years of this my liver enzymes tested a little high during a routine physical so that put an end to it for me. Plus, the hangovers are beyond the worse flu you can imagine once you get over forty years of age. So bad you just wish someone would put you out of your misery. It's just not worth it.
Overall, I feel so much happier and healthier now at 52 than I did during those younger years. I truly enjoy my glass of wine or two a day or the occasional beer or whisky. You're so right when you say there's danger in everything, it's a matter of deciding what is worth the risk. I think it's not so much the now-and-then indulgences that are dangerous but rather our habits. I think the company we keep can be the worst vice.
Happy New Year, my friend. I wish you wonderful things in 2024!
So well sald!
Truly. I think it was you who taught me that thing about the 5 people we surround ourselves with defining our personality/life the most, and it couldn't be more true in this. Even the most temperate people can be rendered chaotic by the wrong company. It's a brief leap between "this is something I do occasionally for fun/to fit in with these people" to "this is my lifestyle now". Particularly when you start messing with the brain.
Happy 2024, Eric :) Still feels surreal that it's here. I hope it brings adventures and pages, and so many wonderful things to you and your family.
I was so bad at this when I was younger! Life gave me a lot of harsh lessons because of it and they eventually "stuck". : )
Happy 2024 to you as well! It feels to me like it will be a year of great volatility and we all know that where there's volatility there's also great opportunity. Cheers to you and your family, may this new year bring everything you wish for!