DRINKING

These days, I often think of the joys of getting drunk. Well, I make it clear at the outset that as i use the work "drunk, I don't mean it in the stone drunk, not - knowing - what - you're - doing, crawling- your way home, spilling your guts kind of drunk. I mean it more in the tipsy, feel goo, laughing genuinely kind of way.

I have to say though that it's a thin line that separates these levels of "drunkenness". Being in the tipsy side normally strips you of your usual inhibitions and you feel that another drink, then another one, and still another one, won't hurt. Until you close your eyes and you feel the world around you or should I say yourself spinning. Dead end, you're out of control! When you wake up the following morning, the previous night is nothing but a blur. Your head is throbbing. Your mouth is dry. You swear never to touch alcohol again. but you know that after recovering from it, few days after, you will be holding that bottle or glass again, drinking yourself silly. It is a good feeling. Almost addicting - intoxicatingly delicious. But it shouldn't be the case. Speaking from experience, (like it's not obvious?!!), I'm proud to say that I have learned to draw the line between fell - good tipsy and silly.

Back in my school years, I would drink to impress my drinking mates, to look "astig" tough and at the end of it all, to get drunk. I thought that was drinking was all about. But now, I know better. These days, I drink for the bitter taste of my favorite beer or my favorite brandy, lol!, for the conversations with favorite drinking buddies, the "friendships bonding" formed within drinking circles. A bottle of liquor now represents a reward for a hard week, a toast to a job well done. A temporary reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. And to me now, getting drunk is more a joy than a headache. i love alcohol's power to strip me of many inhibitions, allowing me to unload much of the excess emotional baggage I carry around when I am sober (READ: seriously and busy). Also after 4 or 6 bottles( I'm talking beer here, and not TEQUILA) or just 2 bottles of brandy shared with friends, mind you! I actually find my words and myself being more articulate with my thoughts more organized and more direct (or so I think). And I've learned not to cross that 6 bottles barrier or another round of brandy or tequila. Beyond that, my speech slurs. When that happens, I take the effort to stay quiet and still, sometimes I go to bed after a shower, lest I risk making a big joke of myself.YIKES!

Learning your limits with alcohol is a trial-and-error process. You overdo it, you don't feel good the next day, you realize that it didn't work, and you don't do it again next time. We've all had our experiences of overdoing it. I know I've had mine. It's like a rite of passage. Sometimes we make the mistake a few times before the lessons sink in. Most social drinkers figure out their limits by the time they are adults--although even people who are not alcoholics sometimes disregard those limits. If one drink makes you feel OK about being at a party, will five drinks make you feel great about it? Probably not, no matter how much fun other drinkers appear to be having.

I know a lot of people, especially the very young boys and girls, who devour alcohol like their lives depended on it. Often these kids (geez, I sound like old here!) humiliate themselves in public. I've seen pretty young girls messed up a place with their half digested dinner, with self - deprecating behavior due to untempered alcohol consumption. Nothing can be more uncool! I've been there, done that and I was never proud of it. Take heed of my advice: DRINKING CAN HAVE ITS JOYS WITHOUT THE HEADACHES. All it takes is a little effort to discern that thin line between TIPSY and SILLY. Take it slow. Talk. Socialize. you will find that drinking is actually a very productive social and even personal activity.

I thought of this topic while I'm on someone's car awhile ago,actually I am heading to a party right after I finish this blog. Buck up introverts! It's Saturday! It's time to loosen up, here's the temptation to bolster my party stamina. Just a friendly reminder: load up 2 - 3 glasses of water before and after heavy drinking. That will save you the terrible hangover the morning.Drinking too much has a lot of negatives. Why pile them on?CHEERS!


-dyoyzee-