I’ve never needed a beer more in my life. Cue the music, Clancy Brothers:
Thank God it’s February.
Yes, I’m one of the stupid idiots that committed to doing a Dry January. What a stupid thing it was.
Now, there are some people out there that have legitimate problems with alcohol trying to solve those problems with Dry January. There are people that try to lose weight through the help of Dry January. Others are just trying to start off their year with a goal to achieve, like a Dry January.
I was trying to see if I could accomplish any of those three things and prove to myself that I could stop if I wanted to.
Well, I made it. What did I learn? I can stop drinking whenever I want. But should I? Absolutely not.
I learned that my irritability as well as my undiagnosed ADHD were through the roof this month. I just felt like a caricature of myself.
Now, any logical person, licensed therapist, or medical doctor would probably agree that alcohol is not the answer to my issues. But the routine of grabbing a beer with friends is certainly a cure for a lot.
I’m not sitting here saying you need to drink to have a good time, because if you rely on it to have a good time, that’s when you have a problem. But does it make good times better? Absolutely.
I’m Irish. I’ll be dealing with something wrong for the rest of my life. But what’s life if you can’t have a beer to celebrate having dealt with that thing?
All I’ve thought about all month is this:
Peter as an abusive alcoholic is scary. Peter who’s never touched a drop of alcohol is a tremendous douche. The lesson he learns from Death? Moderation.
“You don’t have to give up the booze cold turkey. You just have to be responsible with it.”
Moderation is something I’ve never had a problem with. But I think I’ve realized that it’s more important now more than ever, but for the opposite of why you may think I’ve realized it.
Anybody who drinks too much is a problem. People who must have a drink once the clock strikes 5PM have a problem. Getting drunk on weeknights all the time is a problem. Drinking and getting behind the wheel is still one of the worst evils this planet is plagued with.
I don’t have those problems and didn’t before this dumb Dry January. I learned that my moderation was the strongest thing I have.
To bring up the fact that I’m Irish once again, we joke a lot. Almost as much as we drink. But alcoholism in Irish lineage is no joke. I know that that addiction and poisonous habit could’ve hit me, but it missed.
I’m obsessed with video games, movies, music, several desserts, and poorly timed humor. Thankfully the addiction that catches others for booze caught me with other things. It’s there, but it’s not for the bottle.
I’m also obsessed with spending time with my friends and family, all of whom are great people to have a beer or six with.
When something big happens in our lives, there’s no better thing than to raise a glass and forget everything that sucks about the world together. A bucket of beer can do a whole lot of good in doing that.
Celebrating life’s achievements or sharing stories with one another just wouldn’t be the same in a coffee shop as it is in a bar:
So to those wondering if Dry January works, it absolutely didn’t for me in the slightest.
I haven’t lost weight. I haven’t had some epiphany about what’s been wrong my whole life. I haven’t had too much fun at all.
So, here’s to all those that did have a successful Dry January. To those that did lose weight this past month, I’ll have a beer for you. To those who are overcoming their alcohol addiction, I’ll have a beer for you and go grab a coffee with you at a date to be chosen later. To those who achieved their goals this month, I’ll have a whole bucket of beer for you.
Now that we’re through January, we’re only 28 short days away from the best month of the year: St. Patrick’s Month.
See you at the bar. 🍻
~DS
The Danny Diaries 