The Piano Has Been Drinking

Firstly, let me preface everything i'm about to say with the fact today will be my 7th day off alcohol. Addtionally, i've been trying to write this post for 7 days.

Since entering this new years resolution / life decision of sorts (3 months dry for those at the back), more than a couple of people have remarked that there is the potential that some people I know have never actually seen me sober. Just to clarify, that is not potential and it is not some. There are very definitely many people who have never seen me in any other state but drinking or en route to drinking. This is not designed to be an emotional or depressing fact, it is what it is and I dare say there are a lot of people out there who, if they thought about it honestly, would say the same.

Since my youth, I've always had a somewhat interesting relationship with the bottle. I wouldn't necessarily say damaging (although there were definitely times when it was), rather, I've just always had an oversized healthy appreciation for it (thanks mum!).

Right now, I would definitely call myself a social drinker (albeit a VERY social one)and the reasons behind social binge drinking have always fascinated me. We often talk about health, standard drinks, joke about kidneys and livers, transplants and ice baths and swap war stories of near death and the pumping of stomachs. Ironically, most of this is usually done over a cold one at the local or a cocktail or champagne at your favourite bar. We also kick around the term 'alcoholic' like its a badge of honour. However we very rarely talk about how or why. Please note, I say this not from a position of judgement at all (lest I need judge each of my former selves, :P), it is simply of mere observation.

This brings me to my next question: what actually constitutes an alcoholic? I have argued this at length with a great number of people in my life. I have heard everything from, 'anyone who drinks in the morning' to 'an alcoholic is someone who drinks to the detriment of their own finances' amongst a plethora of other reasonings. But to this I say, what about the shift workers, the once-weekly bingers and what to those who can afford it? Since when was affordability a measure of addiction? Dictionary.com (AKA The Bible) defines an alcoholic (amongst other things) as a person who is addicted to intoxicating drinks. Dependency and addiction are definitely the safest arguments i've heard so far but even that is fraught. For example, I once knew a guy who couldn't start his day without three shots of whisky, neat. Dependent, yes. Addicted, yes. Alcoholic, most would say without question. Problem was that was the only drinking he did, ie. if you erased the hours between 7-8am, he was an utter and complete teetotaller. He just needed his whisky in the morn'. He could afford and it never affected anyone else in a social context adversely. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

I am perfectly willing to admit the primary motivation for my 'anti-booze' kick was monetary. While I certainly don't think my health is going to suffer for the fact i'm doing it, i'm entirely unsure of my commitment to it if my back pocket wasn't also feeling relief from the sting. As such, I think all of my comments here are merely me letting my brain run, rather than any sort of general avowal to give up the booze on a more permanent basis. I also seek not to deride alcohol or anyone who has suffered or is suffering the effects of alcoholism in any way. I just find it interesting that for a product that is so over saturated in society we rarely talk about the negative effects, or the fine line a fair percentage of us are treading.

So why this rant? Well, I spent the better part of 7 days trying to come up with a purpose or an overall question or even just a justification for wasting my time and others in investing in this post. Its taken me till now to realise I didn't need one.

Drinking is / was / will always be a big part of my life. My task this year was to spend more time looking at each of the components that make up the whole. So here itis, my perspective, on day 7 of shininess, with the glimmer of a sober #shtbox in my eye. Dear readers, I encourage you all to share yours.