'T' is for 'Total'

[Wayfarer]

I had thought that the 'tee' in 'teetotal' might be a reference to tea-drinking as an alternative to liquor, but no. I watched the beginning of a Netflix doco on the prohibition recently, where I gleaned the nugget of information that the word 'teetotal' comes from a 19th century temperance movement that was was pledged to the total abstinence from alcohol. So the 't' stood for 'total', i.e. 'total abstinence'.

And I've come to the rather hard realisation, that this is what I need to do. I don't consider myself to have 'a drinking problem' - but then, I will drink beer and often wine almost every day. Not huge amounts of either, but at least some. And I am coming to realise it has very deleterious effects both on general health and certainly on the ability to practice meditation. (Alcohol is actually a poison, like all drugs.)

I have gone for periods without alcohol, principally as a consequence of participating in a charity fund-raiser called Dry July, which I observed for the last several years. So I know what's involved. It's just that when I get home in the evening (especially in this scorching Australian summer, which has set records), a beer, or two, or three, just seems about the best thing in the world.

But, I have to quit. And I also vow not to bore anyone talking about it - well, except for here... . But have to do it. I am going to adopt 'T' as a kind of visual icon, like, get a shirt and a baseball cap with 'T' on it. T. For 'total'.

[KeithA]

I had thought that the 'tee' in 'teetotal' might be a reference to tea-drinking as an alternative to liquor, but no. I watched the beginning of a Netflix doco on the prohibition recently, where I gleaned the nugget of information that the word 'teetotal' comes from a 19th century temperance movement that was was pledged to the total abstinence from alcohol. So the 't' stood for 'total', i.e. 'total abstinence'.

And I've come to the rather hard realisation, that this is what I need to do. I don't consider myself to have 'a drinking problem' - but then, I will drink beer and often wine almost every day. Not huge amounts of either, but at least some. And I am coming to realise it has very deleterious effects both on general health and certainly on the ability to practice meditation. (Alcohol is actually a poison, like all drugs.)

I have gone for periods without alcohol, principally as a consequence of participating in a charity fund-raiser called Dry July, which I observed for the last several years. So I know what's involved. It's just that when I get home in the evening (especially in this scorching Australian summer, which has set records), a beer, or two, or three, just seems about the best thing in the world.

But, I have to quit. And I also vow not to bore anyone talking about it - well, except for here... . But have to do it. I am going to adopt 'T' as a kind of visual icon, like, get a shirt and a baseball cap with 'T' on it. T. For 'total'.

I have been toying with this myself. I would say I have the exact same relationship with alcohol. A little just about everyday, but I have come to see even that small amount to be a hindrance. Thanks for the food for thought...and possibly a bit of motivation!

_/|\_
Keith

[明安 Myoan]

Good luck

Finally gave up a weekly treat after another horrible hangover from just two beers. Now to cut back on some other things.

[Schrödinger’s Yidam]

I’ve been clean & sober 20 years. It only got bad towards the end, but looking back with a clear mind I see that it was always a hinderance.

So I applaud your efforts. Good luck.

[Johnny Dangerous]

Abusive relationship with alcohol on and off throughout my life, don't drink now, and work in the field of addiction treatment myself.

"Problem" is in the eye the beholder, if ya gotta quit ya gotta quit. Lots of people go from "no problem" to a problem too, for instance empty-nesters who before had other people to spend their energy on. Folks who end up drinking more because of physical pain, to cover up depression and anxiety etc. etc. There is no special personality or circumstances that make one a "problem drinker"...it's a spectrum.

You'll do great, before long the missing it will likely fade.

[Wayfarer]

Thanks all. My younger sister has been teetotal for 10 years, it’s really helped her. And now the two beers left in my fridge will have to find a new owner....

[Kim O'Hara]

Thanks all. My younger sister has been teetotal for 10 years, it’s really helped her. And now the two beers left in my fridge will have to find a new owner....

On the one hand, it's bad to waste anything. On the other, you wouldn't like to give anyone something that's bad for them, would you?


One more option is to use them in cooking (e.g.) a stew, which will burn off the alcohol.


Or you could just pour them down the sink ... but that's so un-Australian that ScoMo would probably deport you to Kazakstan.



Kim

[明安 Myoan]

Make some beer-battered tofu or something!

[Wayfarer]

son will make short work of them. He's due over on the weekend to help with some chores.

Oh, and one thing I don't intend to be - and here's another good Aussie word - is a wowser. So, as I said, I'm not going to hold forth with friends and family about the 'virtues of abstinence'. In fact, *not* talking about it is part of the sadhana .

[Nemo]

I drink about a bottle of red wine a month. It helps with my arthritis I think. One or two glasses a week seems to be fine, but I've been drinking like this on and off since I was 5.

Quality may play a big part. My brother made some wonderful ale with hops picked on the full moon, etc. That felt very healthy. Store bought beer makes me feel sick. Haven't touched it in years.