giving It up

Categories: journal

Date: 08 March 2011 07:00:52

The title filched from Maggi Dawn's Lent book, which I read last year - I am thinking that, for Lent, this year, I should maybe try not drinking anything alcoholic. I am not one of those who believes that liquor is intrinsically evil (although when I buy a bottle of whisky from the supermarket, I do feel a twinge of guilt - which I put down to conditioning rather than the prompting of the Holy Spirit). But I am aware that the pattern of my drinking is quite different from that of my parents - a glass of wine (for me, nowadays) being a daily indulgence rather than an occasional celebration.

I'm linking my good intention to item 7) of tractorgirl's charter - not that I would describe my current drinking as excessive. I am aware of the guidelines regarding how much a person can drink without damaging his or her health (see the drinkAware website, for example). It's more a case of recognising that I use alcohol as a way of dealing with stress. It's quick, and it's effective (subjectively, anyway), but not recommended.

Of course, if I deny myself something that reduces stress, what's going to happen? Good question ...