30 Days of No Alcohol Ends

 

Today marks the 31st day since I decided to drink nothing but water for 30 days.

Here are the previous four related posts:
One
Deux
Tres
Shi

I scheduled this post to be published at noon on 5-10-14, at which time, over a period of four hours, I will be doing my best to consume all of the alcohol I missed out on for the past month. If I ended up getting an early start, there’s a good chance that as this post goes live, I’m passed out in a pile of my own vomit in a police holding cell with a laundry list of criminal offenses. If you don’t see a new post for a few years, you will know what happened.

On a serious note, here are my impressions of the 30 day experiment.

 

Expectations vs. Reality

1. I expected it to be just a bit difficult not to drink anything but water for 30 days, especially going without milk in my coffee and my protein shakes.

In reality, I found that it was just a bit difficult only to drink water. My reality matched my expectations. As I said in the first update, it’s a toss up whether I missed alcohol or milk more. I’ve been drinking milk regularly since I was born, so I guess that’s not much of a surprise. Actually, this is the longest I’ve ever gone without milk – just realized that as my fingers typed the last sentence.

2. I expected to spend just as or almost as much time in bars as usual, which was the case when abstaining in the past. I usually visit bars around two times per week for a few hours each time.

In reality, I found I didn’t want to spend any time in bars at all. Maybe part of it was that the only option was water, so I couldn’t even enjoy a carbonated beverage. I still went out several times, but didn’t want to stay more than 45 minutes or an hour. And perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I’m no longer in my 20’s. Maybe Chaki’s growing up? Jesus I hope not.

3. I expected to have increased dream activity and a higher frequency of lucid dreams. I usually have one or two lucid dreams each week.

In reality, I found that my dream activity did increase slightly, but my lucid dream frequency did not increase, unfortunately. However, I had a few lucid dreams that were much more “solid” than usual, meaning no matter what I did or thought, I would not return to my body, but stayed in the dream. That’s a good thing.

As a matter of fact, just this morning I had a lucid dream several minutes long in which I heard a beautiful musical cadence, which is what made me “awaken” within the dream. When I realized I was dreaming, I was able to add layers of piano, guitar, and other instruments on top of the original tune, composing an incredible piece. As I listened, I was amazed that I had created it myself. Unfortunately, it’s now forgotten.

4. I expected significantly heightened creativity, motivation, and ability to focus on a task.

In reality, I found perhaps slightly increased creativity, but decreased motivation and decreased ability to focus intensely. I’m not sure if it had anything to do with alcohol, but maybe looking forward to having a few drinks and relaxing with friends is good for motivation? I don’t know.

5. I expected to enjoy abstinence so much that I would not just quit for 30 days, but longer, with the slim possibility that I’d never drink alcohol again.

In reality, I found myself really looking forward to this day. This experiment ends today. Not only do I really miss the feeling of having a buzz, but I really miss the flavors of the different alcoholic beverages I usually enjoy. In many cases they complete a meal in a way nothing else can. Also, there’s no chance I’m ever going without milk again, well unless I become lactose intolerant and start diarrheaing my pants regularly. Milk: it does a body good.

6. I expected to easily lose the fat I gained in Japan without changing my routine much.

In reality, I found that I have lost all of the fat I gained in Japan plus some, but it has been hard work. I’ve been running 3-5 miles 3-4 times per week and lifting weights my usual 4-5 times per week. With that high level of activity combined with healthy eating habits, I thought I’d be more shredded up at this point, but I’m only just getting there. This may have something to do with the fact that my body is aging, although I know a lot of you would kill to be 30 again 😉

 

Pros & Cons of Abstinence

Pros

There were other benefits in addition to the above.

In general, I had more energy and got better and more sleep. I wasn’t out at bars until last call and didn’t spend any mornings feeling sluggish and hungover, so was better able to enjoy more of the weekend mornings out and about instead of in bed.

I’m putting this one under “Pros” but am undecided whether it belongs here or below “Cons”: I realized I’m actually quite vulgar and a bit insane without any alcohol. I always thought/hoped it was the alcohol that brought it out in me, but I guess it’s just me. I’m okay with it.

Emotional balance is easier to achieve without drinking. When we drink, we are borrowing future happiness and cramming it into the drinking session. When the session ends, the time from which we borrowed that happiness comes and we must endure it. Alcohol makes life more of a roller coaster.

Lastly, it’s a lot cheaper not to drink.

Cons

I saw some good friends less often.

I missed out on what I later heard were really fun times.

I was unable to enjoy a couple of my usual weekend nature hangouts quite as thoroughly as I would have with a few drinks in me.

Several times, I really just wanted a drink, both for taste and effect. It never feels good at the time you’re depriving yourself of something you want. However, the long-term effects of occasionally having strong self-restraint are probably positive.

Being sober around drunk people has now become intolerable for me. I used not to care too much, but now it’s incredibly annoying. I was unnecessarily rude to some of them, although I doubt they remember it.

And I now apologize, for the annoyance, to those sober people around whom I have been drunk in the past.

 

Going Forward

Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.
– Ben Franklin

Apparently the old quote “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” is not something Ben Franklin said.

The point remains, however: alcohol is a rich part of life (when not abused). In my mind, I did not experience enough benefits to make it worth my while not to drink alcohol. This, of course, is subject to change in the future.

Alcohol erodes social barriers, increases people’s ability to express their true emotions, and in my opinion, expands our capacity for love.

You can’t argue with a nice cabernet to wash down a juicy New York strip cooked medium-rare.

You can’t argue with an 18 year-old single malt scotch to accompany your Cohiba.

You can’t argue with a frosty cold light beer, or 10, on a sweltering day.

And you can’t argue with drinking with good friends, laughing at stories, and giving each other shit.

These are some of life’s greatest pleasures.

From this point forward I will be more grateful for the alcohol in which I do indulge. As with most things in life, its absence is required for its full appreciation.

I will be more conscious with my drinking going forward, often opting for something other than alcohol in situations in which I’d otherwise have imbibed thoughtlessly in the past.

So, I say, successful experiment.

Thanks for reading. You’re very sexy.