Eric Gunderson is right: idle hands usually find alcohol
Eric Gunderson, one half of the country music duo Love and Theft, had every reason to become an alcoholic.
Not only was he a touring music star with lot of free time on his hands as an opening act — and easy access to free booze — he has a family history of addiction.
So it was great to see an interview he did with People Magazine this week in which he revealed he is seven years sober and energized about the release of the duo’s new EP, called Better Off.
He had good reason to kick the habit — it almost took his life. As a Type 1 diabetic, his body is more predisposed to taking damage from alcohol, and he always ran the risk of messing up his insulin while wasted.
“I just got to the point where I had to drink so much just to maintain that level of drunkness that I was injuring my liver, injuring my kidneys, injuring my whole body,” he told People.
Gunderson said something really insightful that I think people who are trying to kick alcohol for good (myself included) need to be cognizant of.
The trouble with nothing to do
Said Gunderson: “I got a little bit addicted to alcohol. I didn’t realize it was so easy. I come from a family with a history of addiction. I guess there’s that genetic predisposition there, but in the music business, I think idle hands are definitely the Devil’s playground.”
I also love how the success guru Grant Cardone put it, which stays on Gunderson’s fire and brimstone theme: “if you want to meet the Devil, have white space on your calendar.”
I’ve written about this numerous times already and I think it bears repeating, because if you can get a handle on it, quitting will be much easier.
Summarized: you better fill your time with something positive or productive, or alcohol will be waiting there to fill the void. Being bored and at loose ends is a recipe for disaster.
The way I fill my time (other than writing about sobriety here, of course) is to make sure that nights where I have nothing to do are spent at the gym. This is also how musician James Taylor dealt with his addiction issues.
If you can figure out how to replace your boozing time, you’ll be much better off.
Sobriety breeds success
Just look at Gunderson. He co-wrote and co-produced his new album, of which he says “I wouldn’t have had the bandwidth before to even take on producing a project like that” had he still be drinking.
And you can bet that producing an album and doing what he loves is a lot more rewarding than pissing away his time numbing his senses.
I hope this story inspired you to try an alcohol-free path!
Just ask yourself: what could you accomplish with a little more bandwidth? How could you make yourself proud today and tomorrow?
Thank you for reading!
My latest work:
- John Stamos quit alcohol before becoming a father — aspiring parents take note!
- Top Chef’s sobriety maintenance involves fitness focus
- Remi Wolf offers a warning about what comes after sobriety
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