The relationship I have with alcohol is much different than most people’s. It took me decades to figure it out.
I’ve never taken a sip of alcohol that tasted good. Alcohol was just a method for me to get a result. To meet people, to fit in, to make someone else happy, or comfortable. Whatever.
When most people drink, they relax, have fun, feel good.
I used to get those things when I drank, but only for a short window of time. It lasted a couple hours if I was lucky.
After that, alcohol had the exact opposite effect on me. Anxious, stressed, depressed. All this before I even went to sleep. Alcohol made me overanalyze everything.
Then, the hangover. And as I’ve gotten older, the risk/reward from drinking got out of hand.
I’d have a couple beers. But I wouldn’t catch a buzz at all. And I’d still feel like dog shit the next day.
When I was younger, I could bounce back from anything. Muscle recovery was a different game back then.
Now that I’m older, muscle recovery IS the game. Or at least, an incredibly important one. And I do everything possible to optimize it. A critical variable of that, is not drinking alcohol. Muscle recovery is just as important to me as weightlifting, nutrition, and sleep habits.
I remember thinking, “This is stupid. What am I doing? Drinking just to fit in with other people. So they won’t call me weird. Or ask why I’m not having fun.”
I’ve done some dumb shit in my life. But I realized I wasn’t drinking for myself, I was doing it to make others feel better about themselves. And that’s when it finally clicked for me. This shit was stupid.
The Decision to Give Up Alcohol
One day in March 2023, I made the decision to stop drinking (cold turkey). I’ve never been addicted to alcohol. I’ve never attended a meeting. My time was just up.
One specific moment sticks out to me. I was in a relationship. I chose not to drink when I was out with her one night. She got mad at me for not drinking. That was it. It was the dumbest shit ever. And I haven’t had a drink since.
Honestly, I’ve always hated alcohol. I hated the taste of it. The bad decisions. The embarrassment. The headaches. But I kept drinking, for a total of 30 years.
Until 1,000 days ago. It was just time. I could say that I was ready. Or that I finally understood, with enough clarity, why I needed to stop. Or maybe I was sick and tired of alcohol’s control on me. Plus, how people were bothered when I didn’t drink. Probably all of the above.
Looking back…the decision to give up alcohol was easy for me. It was one decision. That I made one day. That I’ve committed to. And will stick to for good.
The Benefits I’ve Gotten from Giving Up Alcohol
I have a hard time describing how much mental clarity I’ve gained from being alcohol-free. It’s massive. I see everything through a different lens. I’m a completely different, happier person now.
My muscle health is better than it’s been in 15 years. I feel lighter when I walk. Joints work better. Muscles are more flexible.
I sleep better. Alcohol would wreck my sleep. And my gut health is a lot better.
Being alcohol-free has given me a mental freedom that I’ll never trade in.
The peace I feel, knowing that I’ll never drink again, is a different kind of high in itself.
What I Miss About Drinking
I miss the social aspect of it. But that is literally the only thing. It was exciting to fit in.
It was comfortable being around people who didn’t look down on me and ask, “Why aren’t you drinking?”
Being alcohol-free has definitely outcast me to more of a degree. As if life doesn’t give us enough fucking hurdles. Now I have to convince people I’m having fun, while drinking water.
It’s exhausting. But I’ve learned to navigate it.
I’ll be honest. I don’t fully understand the negative effects alcohol has on the body. But I know enough.
And I’m not perfect. I do indulge in things that aren’t good for me. I shoot for a rate of 80/20.
80% of the time, I follow basic, healthy, clean rules that I believe in.
20% of the time, I reward myself and do what I want.
But alcohol will never be one of those things again.
I share this, because I’ve read other people’s stories that’ve helped me a ton.
I’ve never tried to convince anyone to stop drinking. And I never will. If something makes you happy, enjoy it.
But don’t disrupt someone else’s peace, because they made a decision not to drink.
You don’t know what’s going on in their life.
And their relationship with alcohol, is much different than yours.
Thanks for your interest in my story.
Todd Bowen – Computer Posture Correction and Pain-Free Ergonomics: For Part-Time Athletes Who Sit at a Computer Full-Time
P.S. My main focus is writing about computer posture and ergonomics.
If you’re athletic-minded, but you work on a computer for a living…
I write about easy, actionable ways to:
- decrease computer pain
- improve computer posture
- improve work productivity
- improve muscle recovery
Sign up at SittingPosture.com/email.
Amazing read homie! Keep pushing💪🏾💪🏾
Thanks brother! Appreciate your support.