Emilie asks…
What do you do with people? I have a hard time coming up with non-happy hour activities.
To which I say, anything minus the alcohol. Go to happy hour but order a soda water instead. Go mini golfing, out to dinner, grab coffee, ice skate, take a walk on the bike creek path, watch a matinee, eat gelato, hike, rent bikes, geocache something, build a house of cards, and wander around. All of these things sounded serially lame to me before I stopped drinking. If activities didn’t involve drinks, you could almost certainly count me out. This was one of the first red flags I recognized; not wanting to do things that excluded drinking.
Whitney and I cook (more like, Whitney cooks, I hoover the results) and watch terrible movies. Ariana and I have slumber parties and go to brunch. Sarah Jane invites me to join her on outings with her new puppy. Alice and I go to Bar Method together a few times a week, sometimes 15 times in a month just for free socks. Kitzel and I meet up for coffees with paperback memoirs to swap and talk about horses.
Do what you enjoy. For example, I detest making things and crafts in general so I never force myself to try it again. Don’t overthink it so much. These “serially lame” suggestions are things I genuinely enjoy doing now. Who knew?
Surprisingly, i’ve actually found that i enjoy almost any activity sober more. Happy hour? Yes please! My check is a fraction of the drinkers. Late night dinner out? No worries. I sleep like a queen.
“Do what you enjoy”! What a great mantra Clare! It’s so true- If you hated bowling while you were drinking, you probably are still going to want to chuck the ball down the lane and throw a temper tantrum sober.
Thanks for the always reflective and inspiring words! “It is never too late to be what you might have been”.. Obviously, you are meant for great things!
xoxo
I feel the same way! So many benefits. <3
I think I want to teach myself how to knit. I have never had an interest in that before, but I feel like it might feel nice to throw myself into a project. But we’ll see. Maybe I’ll just stick to blogging, where I can delete mistakes more easily.
If you do, make me a hat.
Sounds to me like when you stopped sharing just drinks with others you started sharing your life.
PS- Buttons loves you. (So do I).
I couldn’t agree more. I love you too!