Christmas Presence

I would be slightly buzzed. Not enough to need the bucket, but enough to make it difficult to rise from the pit. My boy had barely slept 2-3 hours but was bouncing on his bed like Tigger. Watching him open his presents was always one of my favourite times of the year. The anticipation. The joy. The gratitude. I loved it all. After cleaning away the wrapping, it was off to his grandparents. More presents. More love. More joy. And. Then. The. Clock. Struck. Noon. Off I went with my Dad to the pub, leaving my son and his toys behind, and the women to deal with the dinner. There was something strange about Christmas Day drinking. The alcohol felt more potent. We would stick six pints down our throat before heading home. The dinner soaked up most of the alcohol, but I was never present. I couldn’t drink more during my lunch, so my head began to hurt. Then came the tiredness. My son wanted to play. I needed sleep. After waking up, it was time to go to the pub for my cousins birthday. I couldn’t even tell my son that I would play with him on Boxing Day because that was Yard of Ale day down the Non-Pol. If my boy wanted to play with me, he would have to wait until the 27th, two days after Santa had delivered the goods. This year, as someone that doesn’t drink alcohol, I woke up with a clear head, more excited than my two-year-old daughter. I was entirely present for her, as was my wife. In the afternoon, we went to my sister-in-law’s house. Nobody drank alcohol, we had fun, ate grub, played with our toys, and then all went to watch a movie before coming home and doing it all again. It will be like this forever, because I am someone that doesn’t drink alcohol, and I talk about it during today’s podcast episode Christmas Presence. The Truth About Alcohol We Are Not Alcoholics, and We Refuse to Be Anonymous January Taster Rhonda has just finished the December Taster, and she wanted to share her feedback with you. “The Taster provided me with the opportunity to uncover the reasons I was drinking. With Lee’s guidance and compassion, I’ve learned that alcohol has no place in my life. Allowing myself to be vulnerable here has set me free to become a better version of myself. I’m very grateful to be a part of the Strive community where I’m no longer alone. Thank you so much for opening my eyes!” If you want to become a better version of yourself, then registration for the January Taster remains open until Monday, December 31: http://www.thetruthaboutalcohol.co.uk/p/TTAA%20Taster