I’m an alcoholic; however, as of today—in real life—I’ve been sober for 15 years. If my fellow dwarves find out about my sobriety, I’ll be toasted like an extra-crispy Nomi meal.
So, I need some stout dwarf brethren, sistren, and all other dwarf comrades to drink my share to keep the (crazy) eyes of the enforcers for the Council of Dwarven Breweries off of me for not drinking my legal minimum.
You must uphold the dwarven drinking culture for me— while I stealthily swap my Sulfuron Slammers for Blackrock Mineral Water—otherwise I’ll never earn my beard.
I hope me discussing this anniversary in a lighthearted post is not upsetting for anyone else who is also an alcoholic, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately. I just want to somehow thank WoW for effectively being my drinking proxy for a few years, and a crazy-eyed dwarf stare GIF was randomly what I thought to do (and, it was GIF number 333, which also happens to be my favorite number).
Also, because I don’t post topics often, I just want to take the chance to say thanks to everyone who has at least had a little chuckle or smile from my silly little GIFs over the last 2-years. I do it because I know that maybe a little smirk might be just enough to go from a bad day to a not-quite-as-bad day.
And, don’t worry…I’ll keep making GIFS as long as I’m still posting.
Some days it's easier than others. Click if want to read the rest, but I spoiler'd the following out because I didn't want to bring anyone down any.I felt I was doing pretty well for a while, but I've had a bit of a rough time of things the last 2-3 months for...reasons.
So, between that and losing my biggest champion—who probably saved my life when I was drinking so excessively and mixing that with beyond-prescribed doses of the fluoxetine and azdone I was taking at the time—last year to cirrhosis at 38...I've been less strong versus the temptation than I feel like I've usually been for a few years. I've still kept from it though, and I don't plan on ever having a drink again if I can manage it.
Here’s to the next 15, but I sure wish I could just drink casually or responsibly even though that’s not me. If you don’t have an issue, have one for me! If you do have addiction problems, I do also you the best too.
Staying sober is not easy. If it were, alcoholism (and other addictions) wouldn’t be a thing. I’m impressed by anyone who manages to break out of that cycle. I have known too many who couldn’t (or never tried). My brother was one. I haven’t visited him in a while. He resides in a lovely metallic-purple urn now.
Keep on resisting. You can’t make any GIFs from an urn.
I’m sorry to hear that. As I’ve watched a few people close to me not be able to fight it too, I’ve realized just how much I’ve been lucky to be able to manage…and very privileged in the early times to have someone who was my…champion?..who supported me through it. He never could stop himself, and always fell so hard until finally the body couldn’t take anymore.
Honestly, I’m not any better than he was at fighting off the temptation. Pure and simple: I just simply have to avoid or extricate myself from any situations involving alcohol and just…somehow manage not buy some.
I failed on that last account once about 4.5 years ago with a bottle of mellow corn, but managed to stop and throw the bottle over an embankment about a half of a mile from home. I haven’t actually told anyone about that even my doctor. But in case someone is having a hard time with it and reads this, I wanted them to know that everyone can have their weak moments even if they’ve made it that long but keep on going.
So, here’s to those who were otherwise mostly good folk but were alcoholics that couldn’t find a way to manage. For me, that’s my friends Charlie, Shay, Matt, and Jackie, uncle Rex, my cousins April and Marlena, and probably more who slip my mind at the moment.
Now, I feel like I’m dragging my own thread down with reality, when I wanted it to kind of be more positive with a bit of dwarf fun. I also don’t want my posts to feel like alcohol bashing because I’m certainly someone who would drink again if I could.
That takes some pretty serious guts. A lot of folks would turn their brain off and just drink it.
Some people can drink. Some can’t. Some can drink but probably shouldn’t. That’s just how it is. The trick is to know which group you’re in and stick with it.
It’s possible to go out and have a good time without drinking. It’s possible to face your demons without drinking. It’s absolutely possible to have a good life without drinking. It might not be easy, but it’s possible.
I’m sorry for your losses. Some people might think that losing friends and loved ones through alcohol would make it easier to avoid drinking, but I know that’s not necessarily true. You’ve done a great job for 15 years. That’s something to be proud of. But, as you know, the temptation will never go away. Keep on keeping on.
Don’t worry I live in Queensland Australia the home of the Walkabout Creek Hotel where Paul Hogan filmed Crocodile Dundee. Culture doesn’t change here in a hurry. In fact nothing happens here in a hurry.
find out about my sobriety, I’ll be toasted like an extra-crispy Nomi meal.
Thanks all.
As I’ve watched a few people close to me not be able to fight it too, I’ve realized just how much I’ve been lucky to be able to manage…and very privileged in the early times to have someone who was my…champion?..who supported me through it. He never could stop himself, and always fell so hard until finally the body couldn’t take anymore.
here’s to those who were otherwise mostly good folk but were alcoholics that couldn’t find a way to manage. For me, that’s my friends Charlie, Shay, Matt, and Jackie, uncle Rex, my cousins April and Marlena, and probably more who slip my mind at the moment.
