Sober Fun

One of my main concerns coming out of treatment was with regards to my recreational time.  How was I going to have fun without a beer in my hand?  As I thought about it, it seemed everything I did outside of work (and sometimes work) involved drinking in one form or another.  Softball, fishing, camping, gardening, family get-together’s all had a beer involved.  At the end, just being awake required a drink.  I didn’t know how I was going to enjoy my time, or who I would enjoy it with.  I needn’t have worried.  Upon coming home, I found that most of my friends were very supportive of my situation, even went out of their way to include me and protect me from what they thought were dangerous situations.  My family, of course, was 100% behind me.  And while some of those activities don’t involve me anymore (too old and beat up to play ball) I found a few new things to do and found the motivation to go back and pick up a few things I used to to do but stopped for one reason or another.  Now that I was clear-headed and not worried about where or how soon I was gonna get my next drink, I could take more time and enjoy my hobbies.  I still camp with friends.  I’ve played more golf this year already than I did in the past 5 years combined.  I got the boat out of the shed and have spent many hours fishing with the kids.  I resurrected my garden for the first time in a few years.  I’ve been fixing stuff around the house that has been needed for quite some time.  Once I quit drinking, that motivation to accomplish things has returned.  And my relationships with my wife and kids has improved immensely now that I’m mentally present all the time.  Life is more fun now than when I was drinking.  It just might look a little different than it did before