Wow. It’s here already. The final post in Year of Living Sober’s series of 12 Dipsomaniac Declarations.
Here’s Number Twelve:
As a Dipsomaniac I share my experiences openly.
Like the rest of YOLS’ DDs number 12 is inspired by the corresponding Alcoholics Anonymous step. AAs step number 12 is:
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Why the AA step doesn’t work for dipsomaniacs.
Even though it might seem that by writing this booze-free blog I am following step 12 of Alcoholics Anonymous (by carrying a sober ‘message’ to alcoholics), I see YOLS more as a way of me being completely open. (Well, as ‘open’ as I can be without posting computer-cam pics of me writing in my towel!)
I’m simply sharing my story. I’m not suggesting every big drinker—or any big drinker—should do the same as me and have a year of living sober, just to make sure they can. It’s not for me to tell anyone what to do, even if something has worked (or is working) for me.
Everyone’s spiritual journey is as unique as their physical one; no step is ever quite the same.
Dipsomaniacs seeking to manage their own alcohol consumption do not need to tell others to do the same. They might want to share about how good it was waking up without a hangover (or a sexual partner they’d forgotten the name of) but they don’t need to preach about it.
“Wait a minute, Ben. Isn’t it ‘preaching’ to say ‘Don’t Preach!’?”
Ahh, yeah, you got me there, Ben. But, please, don’t be so pedantic. All I mean to say is, something me and a million hippies have said before: “Live and let live, man!”
And if you want to ‘carry’ a ‘message’ into the world, why not make it one of unconditional love and acceptance rather than one of ‘Do As I Do (don’t drink) Or You Are Doomed (to the life of an alcohol dependent)’?
But even as I say that I know the world is a mysterious place—full of contradictions and dichotomies—and practicing unconditional love and acceptance means I shouldn’t judge others for judging others.
So, drink up, I say. And spread any word you feel compelled to. For me the word of the last 345 days has been ‘dipsomaniac’. Before I started my year of living sober I didn’t know the word existed.
But now I do.
And I’m happy to call myself one. And share my story.
My name is Ben and I’m a dipsomaniac.
Today is Day 345 of my year of living sober.
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Little Booze Joke
A computer walks into a bar and announces to everyone, “Free beers for any gal who shows me her tits.” The bartender rushes over and says, “Hey mate that’s very generous of you but it’s not very PC.” The computer makes an error sound, an angry pixellated face flashes on the screen and the computer replies, “What do you want from me? I’m an Apple.”
How about you? Do you share openly? Or are you guarded about sensitive issues like whether you drink too much booze or not? Love to get your comment.
