quote]That's necessary for alcoholics to do in order to keep them reminded of their sucess. I'm not saying zungle is an alcholic, he may or may not be - but people who are alcoholics who are successful at remaining alcohol free need to know how successful they have been for how long for positive reinforcement of that success.
Well then......................
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WARNING RAMBLING STORY I guess I'll tell a bit of the story behind my abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
Since he days of my youth I've always had an inner feeling that drugs,alcohol, etc weren't meant for humans to use...............sounds strange but I do feel that way.............
Anyways that didn't stop me from partying, partaking in the green bud and drinking with my buddies...........
Because of that inner feeling.......
Over a period of 8-10 years / ages 17-27..............I actually quit drinking and smoking weed multiple times..............
Anyway.............when I was about 20-21, when we would occasionally smoke some weed and what not,
I began noticing that after smoking weed I had some very strange heart beats/rhythms, they would usually pass in time..............well one day..........the irregular heartbeats became unbearable and frightening.....and didn't go away.........so I saw a physician...........I was diagnosed with PVC's(premature ventrical closures) at the ripe old age of 21.............I have been on beta blockers ever since
Needless to say I have never taken or smoked any type of recreational drug since that diagnosis.....................Nothing
...........26 years
Now on the Alcohol............
While quitting everything else I still drank the occasional beer,and every once in a while my friends and I would tie one on...or get a bit hammered
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This went on until I was 27............still no DUI's or legal stuff............a few bar scraps and family arguments etc......
Right after my 27th birthday I was asked to join a local and amateur powerlifting club by the owner of the gym I worked out at............I accepted and began training fairly seriously, at the gym I met a guy that lived near me so we started carpooling everyday at 5:00am to lift before work.
Mac (the guy at the gym) became a good friend and we began talking more openly about life etc.................
One morning July 26th 1992 ,on the way to work out ,I expressed that I was really hungover and had no desire to workout..........he began berating me for drinking etc.....as he was a non drinker........well I returned the fire and ripped him because I was stronger than him and in a lower weight class and maybe he should quit smoking 2 packs a day and worry about himself then he might get stronger.....................
Well this turned into a wager.................
Who could quit smoking and who could quit drinking the longest..........?
To this day Mac has never smoked again and I have never drank/used alcohol again.............
No DUI's,Domestic problems, no A.A. , no Twelve Steps, no outpatient therapy.
Just me,
God...................and my kids............... raising them in a different environment than I was raised , was a huge motivation.
The 1st year wasn't too..... big of a challenge, I had already quit recreational drugs etc.....
It was more life management , basically pre-planning and staying clear of the influence.........and prayed a lot..........
I also parted ways with a lot of people whom I thought were friends................but it is and was worth it.
As each day passed I felt stronger and more proud of myself..............I also grew to like the feeling of being in right/clear headed?
You know no worries of DUI's,brawling or making totally ****ed drunken decisions...........etc,etc.
Boy I have made some regretable drunken decisions......
I also used the fact that in this world, I am nearly alone as a non-drinker/substance user as motivation and strength.
In almost 20 years there has never been an urge a close call or anything..........
It just isn't part of my rational or stream of thought...............
I am a non drinker..................
But.........................................You guys can enjoy a cold one for me
post edited by zungle - 2012/05/17 23:25:43