I can't stop loving you

A misunderstanding. I thought the 40 day challenge ran until Easter. But it was until April 10. And I also thought I had one more blog to go. But last week's blog was the last one, I was told by Katja from IkPas. But luckily she ran her hand over her heart and this blog is also being posted.

That gives me a chance to finish my train of thought. I don't know how many people read this blog and the previous 5. Frankly, it doesn't really matter to me. The blogs are a good tool for me to think about my alcohol consumption. What it will bring me, what it will cost me, and how I want to deal with it in the future. I have also read a few things about alcohol through the blogs. That also sharpened my mind.

So I went back several times to 'Drink?: The new science of alcohol and your health' by Professor David Nutt. In addition to an overview of all the health risks of alcohol, he (fortunately?) also gives a number of positive sides of alcohol. For example, research shows that people who drink socially have more friends on average and also more emotional support. That is important for your mental health. (It is not entirely clear what is cause and what is effect here.)

Furthermore, alcohol is a tool to make contacts. Asking someone to join you for a drink is a culturally accepted way to make friends. A drink after sports, music or other activities loosens the tongues. Social drinking can be a tool for making connections. The most common reason for drinking is that people want to have a good time with others.

I feel that way myself. The most times I've had alcohol in the past 100 days (3 out of 4) was after practicing with my music mate K. That's just part of it. Relaxation after exercise. A nice beer or glass of wine and a toast with French cheese. Cozy. Incidentally, I noticed that 1 glass is sufficient. It doesn't necessarily have to be half a bottle of us.

What now? I like very little alcohol. I wouldn't want to go back to alcohol almost every day. But also not to ever more alcohol. As Ray Charles sang long ago: 'I can't stop loving you'. My good intentions are the following:

• At home I don't drink alcohol anymore, unless there are visitors. And then I first start with an alcohol-free variant. I don't drink alone.
• I don't drink more than 2 days a week, and then a maximum of 2 drinks. I have downloaded an app (DrinkCoach) to monitor my alcohol consumption. Less, but enjoy.
• I also keep in my diary when I drank alcohol, how it tasted and how much I enjoyed it. And what I had to give up.
• I regularly take a week off from alcohol. I provide alcohol-free alternatives. In recent months I have discovered that there are many.
• I don't drink alcohol before 9:30 pm. (I already used that rule. I like it!)
• From New Year's Day 2023 it will be Dry January again. And maybe another 100 days.

K. gave me a nice bottle of wine for my birthday. The cork is removed on Easter Monday. Cheers!