Summary

A 65-year-old man decides to participate in "Sober October" alongside his wife, reflecting on his 50 years of alcohol consumption, the influence of drinking on his family, and the personal challenges and benefits of abstaining from alcohol for a month.

Abstract

The author, a long-time drinker, contemplates the impact of his alcohol consumption on his life and family. Prompted by his wife's decision to abstain from alcohol for "Sober October," he grapples with the idea of giving up his daily habit of at least two drinks. He acknowledges the physical and mental attachment he has to drinking, which he associates with happiness and an "altered state of consciousness." Despite rarely getting drunk, he recognizes the negative effects of alcohol on his waistline and budget. The man lists five reasons for joining the challenge: curiosity about his ability to quit, the influence he has on his wife and children's drinking habits, the financial cost of alcohol, the desire to lose weight, and the personal pride of overcoming his cravings. He anticipates challenges, particularly during his birthday and a planned visit to a distillery, but remains determined to see if he can successfully complete Sober October.

Opinions

The author enjoys the feeling of being "buzzed" and associates drinking with increased happiness.
He believes that drinking has had a significant influence on his wife and children's drinking habits.
The author recognizes the financial burden of regular alcohol consumption, estimating a monthly expense of $600 or more.
He admits that alcohol consumption has contributed to his weight gain and sees Sober October as an opportunity to address this issue.
The author views the challenge as a test of his willpower and a chance to feel better about himself by conquering his cravings.
He expresses uncertainty about maintaining sobriety during special occasions, indicating a strong cultural association between celebrations and alcohol.

I’m Not Drinking Today…Maybe

Who’s “thinkin’ of drinkin’” — — I am

On the last day of September, my wife informed me that she was going to participate in “Sober October.” My first thought, which I know was selfish of me, was, “Great. Now I’m going to have to drink alone.”

As the day went on, I thought more and more about doing Sober October with her. Could I do it? Did I want to do it?

I’ve been drinking since I was 15, and I’m now 65. That’s 50 years of regular alcohol consumption, which is at least two drinks a day for me. Often, it’s more.

My challenge has always been that I love a good buzz. An “altered state of consciousness.” Not that I sit and have profound thoughts while I’m impaired. I just feel happier.

One of my favorite movie quotes is Denzel Washington in “Flight.” He says, “I choose to drink! And I blame myself! I am happy to! And you know why? Because I choose to drink!”

Turns out, he wasn’t choosing to drink. Drinking was choosing him.

One Day “Sober”

Yesterday was my first day “sober,” which is a term I always reserved for someone who was once considered “a drunk.” Even though I very rarely over-imbibe and get to the point of being drunk.

Not only has drinking increased my waistline because of the “wasted calories,” but it also is something I think about regularly.

Rare is the day when I’m not thinking in the morning about what I’m going to be drinking that afternoon. And yesterday, I thought about drinking for what seemed like a thousand times. I wasn’t craving it physically, but I was mentally.

5 Reasons Why I’m Doing Sober October

I’ve chosen to join my wife in Sober October for several reasons:

Curiosity: I want to see if I can stop drinking when I want to — for a prolonged period of time.

2. Influence: I think my drinking influences my wife’s drinking and has impacted the amount my children drink. I want to be a positive influence.

3. Cost: I’ve calculated that we spend about $600/month or more on alcohol (beer/liquor/wine). What a waste.

4. Waistline: I know my belly is bigger because of my drinking. I want to lose those extra pounds.

5. Pride: I believe I’ll feel better about myself if I can conquer my cravings.

My Challenges in Sober October

I have several challenges with making it through October’s 31 days without a drink.

First, my birthday is in October. I’m already wondering if I can go without a drink that day, especially since my wife is taking me out for a “birthday dinner.” I know I’ll be tempted to have a cocktail (or two) before dinner and wine with my meal.

Second, we have plans to go to a distillery with friends next weekend. I know that if I go, I’ll end up sampling the whiskey and will have several of their specialty cocktails.

I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do about those two dates. If you’re interested in how I fare, check back here on November 1st, as I’ll post an update and tell you how I did.