Did you know April is Alcohol Awareness Month? While every month (and moment) is an opportunity for awareness, I’m inspired by Alcohol Awareness Month and wanted to share my thoughts.
The judgment and intolerance our society traditionally shows to people struggling with substance use disorder melt away when we encounter someone abstaining as part of a communal effort celebrated on social media. Like “Dry January” or “Drynuary,” Alcohol Awareness Month presents another opportunity for exploration.
There are many paths to healing and recovery. No matter where you go and how you get there, the journey begins by asking questions – not only of others but of ourselves. Curiosity is essential.
We don’t have to be alcoholics, addicts, or even suffering to develop curiosity about who –and how–we might be in the world without substance by our side (or by our side less often). Curiosity leads us toward true exploration, mindfulness, and staying open about what we find – and what we choose to do with the knowledge we uncover.
Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to comprehend only a little of this mystery every day.”
What are YOU curious about?
Should you decide to explore, here are some tips for answering the question, “Why aren’t you drinking?”
- I don’t like the way it makes my body feel.
- My head feels clearer all day.
- I want to see what I get done when I’m not drinking.
- I feel good right now, and not drinking might be part of that.
- I’m testing it out. I don’t love who I am when I drink, so I’m holding off for now.
- I happened not to drink for a few days and felt great, so I haven’t started again.
In Service,
Natasha
