Are you strict with yourself?

"What do you want to drink?" Me: “spare please”. "Oh, don't you want something nice to drink?" Me: “I like the spa”. The other: “I mean, don't you want a glass of wine or something? “No”, I say, “I pass; no alcohol for 30 days”.

no alcohol for 30 days. If you say that to (some) people, they are shocked and they say “gosh, I don't want to think about it; I really can't live without my wine!” Also, many people say “why are you so hard on yourself?”

That's what I was wondering this week. Am I strict with myself? I try to live healthy; that would mean; healthy food, exercise at least 2 x a week, no smoking and now no alcohol. If you had told me this 10 years, or actually 2 years ago, I would have responded with "well then your life is really useless". This week I also got the feeling that it was 'boring'; no sweets, no alcohol, no snacking, getting up on time on Saturday and Sunday to go for a run. Where has the time gone when I was in bed until noon on Sunday and broke through the rest of the day?

Where has the time gone when I came home from work and put a bottle of white wine on the table, drank too much and just shoved a pizza in the oven? No, when you look at it that way it seems boring. Until I thought about what I get in return; a better night's sleep, waking up rested, feeling fit and energetic, it makes a difference in my wallet. So really only benefits. Am I strict with myself? No, I'm just kind to myself!

It's strange that taking good care of yourself is seen as 'being hard on yourself'. If you regularly drink alcohol, you are seen as a Burgundian and as a pleasant person. On the other hand, if you decide not to drink alcohol, you will be seen as boring and unsociable. That's how I was. I didn't understand people who didn't drink; 'they never fall out of their roles' I would say. No, that's right, if you don't drink alcohol, you're less likely to talk weak and you'll be done with the day around 12 o'clock in the evening. You do not repeat yourself and you are less likely to share your most confidential matters with others. Since I drink less, and don't drink at all this month, things like this stand out more. Alcohol has become the norm for socializing. As if we can't have a good time without alcohol.

The question 'will I completely stop drinking alcohol forever?' sometimes comes to my mind. I don't have the answer and I won't give it. I'm fine with not drinking, I don't miss it and it's really out of my system. Alcohol has been important in my life for a while, it was also the norm for me to have fun. There have been times when I drank wine every day and drank too much wine every weekend. I couldn't imagine not drinking for weeks. I am happy that I can now experience that I do not need alcohol to have a good time, that food can also be delicious with spa red and in the evening on the couch a cup of hot tea is also fine.

But; I really like wine! What I still have a hard time imagining is going out to dinner and not drinking a nice matching wine with the dishes. I'm lucky this month, there are no dinners planned. Still, perhaps a good reason to go out for dinner next week, as a test! Eating out, without matching wines. Sounds like a good excuse for a restaurant visit!

See you again next week!