Against the grain

Seven months I've been on the wagon, and I think I'm finally at the stage where I'm okay with it. I spend more time giving people my questionable face than I do giving them my wanting face. I'm not in the least bit sorry for people feeling uncomfortable around me for the last 7 months, and I'm not the least bit sorry that they've missed out on my life because they can't find the balance of hanging out because I don't drink anymore.

I am finding though that people are now at the point where it's 'time for me to start drinking again' per their schedules. The offers for my favorites and the ideas that I'd like to 'hang out' at a bar are becoming common place again. I'm not sure where these people have been, except right next to me, but this isn't the 7 inning stretch or the 7 year itch (see what I did there), I'm good; actually I'm great not drinking. The only thing that I am finding hard to maneuver is actual dating. Do you realize that almost every single person drinks, and almost to excess? Probably not because you might be one of them. It's cool though, to each their own; I am not here to judge anyone.

The same as I don't want to be with someone who smokes, I don't want to be with someone who drinks. It's just a crutch that I'm willing to walk away from in my life, and the temptation of having it around is something I just don't want. I now understand why sparks from the past didn't develop with people who I knew that didn't drink while I did.

Society and the media has us so warped to thinking that to survive, to deal, to socialize, and to function, we must drink. Take paint nights for example, I really want to do them but their focus is 'come drink and have a good time'. Pardon me, I am very capable of having a good time without drinking, could you host a night of just painting and socializing as an alternative? Target to add drinking while shopping? Explain to me why that is even necessary.

I'm still early on this path in my life so I've still got a long way to go, but finding people whom I can share this ground with is something I very much look forward to.