Alcohol

I used to like to drink alcohol.  I enjoyed wine with dinner, beer almost anytime, and sipping Glen Livet and Chivas Regal scotch.  I liked Black Russians occasionally.  One evening, I was at the home of some friends having dinner.  I recall I was suffering some of the effects of shingles.  I drank Chivas, wine with dinner, and something after dinner.  I good dinner with friends, and no shingles discomfort.  The next morning, I woke up and decided I did not want to drink anymore.  That was a pretty drastic idea.  I recall having no such plans the evening before.  But like any drastic decision, one ought not go it alone if possible.  So I thought to myself, is there anyone else who makes such decisions, I being a rookie at this?  Sure enough there were such people around.  I found them.  And there was no internet at that time.  I wasn't interested in meeting other non-drinking rookies.  I mean, what did they know?  I listened to the pros.  An added benefit was that some of these longtime nondrinkers came from walks of life, of which I had no experience.  Who cares!  They were content.  Plus, they seemed to want to be helpful, to share wisdom.  I wanted wisdom.  So, I advise you, if you want to change something in your life, don't try and do it alone.  Find people, a group, who have figured out how to change and stay changed.  I want to run for exercise.  But I run with a group when I can.  Alone, I come up with excuses to not run or exercise at all.  On my own I lack fortitude.  If you want to meditate, find meditators.  Find a group.  False pride goeth before the fall.