Today is
Independence Day in the
U.S.. I have never celebrated the
holiday - I am not
American and even if I were, I don't care much for the
artificial boundaries imposed by what we call countries.
However, I am going to celebrate my own Independence Day today - my personal independence from alcohol. I am taking the step, and I am finally going to try and stick to it.
I have been drinking too much for nearly 5 years. I consider myself a functioning alcoholic - I have a successful professional career, a lovely girlfriend, and pretty much everything I need to be moderately happy. People don't know that for some reason, I can't get through a day without a certain amount of alcohol. In the last few years, I've moved up (or, more appropriately, down) from cheap wine to cheap vodka. I'm 28 years old.
And here's the thing: I've tried this before. It didn't work. Several failed New Year's resolutions, too. After a few days, or a week, or sometimes even the same day, I ended up buying a bottle or a six-pack. I am not a weak person, but alcoholism is a tough habit to shake, it seems.
I don't want professional help. I've kicked other habits easily, by just making the decision and sticking to it. I quit smoking about 1 year ago, cold turkey, and never had any difficulties with that. But I've been trying to stop drinking for years.
Why did I put this here? I read somewhere that it helps to write resolutions down, so that it becomes concrete, something real, rather than just an idea. So... I'm doing one better - I'm putting my resolution down right here, for all everythingians to see. There's no backing out now, I guess.
Today is Independence Day, and I am celebrating my independence from alcohol. Wish me luck!