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I am giving up alcohol for Lent.
When I announced this, Husband said “So, now you are Buddhist, Hindu AND Catholic?
This is embarrassing, but I never really thought about Lent being Catholic. Growing up, the only person I knew who participated in Lent was my atheist friend, Heather. Every year, she would steadfastly give up cereal; I thought it was something people just did.
But, I’ll be honest, the whole Lent thing is just a ruse, a cover for wanting to cut alcohol from my life.
I don’t drink much but on a weekend I might have wine or a girly cocktail. However, these days, even one drink makes me feel like a hot mess. I don’t sleep well, I’m dehydrated, nauseated and cranky for the whole next day. So, now I have a good excuse for not drinking; I’m doing it for God.
But here’s the thing I’ve been struggling with since starting serious yoga a few years ago.
I feel like I’m not fun anymore.
- I don’t drink alcohol
- I do drink green juice
- I don’t eat junk food
- I do eat things like kale and quinoa
- I like to get enough sleep
- I get up early to practice yoga and meditate
- I have healthier and less drama-infused relationships
In short, I’m not fun.
It’s not like I even want to do the long lost “fun” things; I no longer have the desire to participate in them.
Yes, of course my life is fun now, but it’s a decidedly different kind of fun. I have healthy fun. Is that a thing? Doesn’t fun inherently have to be dangerous and unwholesome?
I am slowly getting more comfortable with my new version of fun and hanging with other yogis (or just other dorks) who don’t roll their eyes at my clean living is very helpful. But every once in a while, I long for the days when drinking and eating junk and getting in a stupid fight felt good.
But then I go drink a juice, meditate for a while and go do yoga with Husband. And you know what? For my money, that’s a hell of a Friday night.
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I practice Bikram yoga 5-7 times a week, and find drinking wine lately makes me feels horrible… I like the idea of giving up something, but also adding something fabulous!
Namaste!
I love the idea of concentrating on what you are adding….much better perspective! Thanks for reading and namaste!
I cannot tolerate alcohol either. It didn’t used to be like that. My younger self loved beer (like the good German that I am.)
Sometimes I also get this little voice in my head, making fun of me because I am going to bed at 11pm on a Friday night or something similarly “boring”. Then I remember my partying days, all the hung over Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays (I always had at least a little hangover, even from one beer), and the feeling crappy because I wasn’t providing my body with good food or exercise, and the insecurities about myself and friends and relationships… and then I realize that I love the life I have created for myself.
Through the yoga I am more in tune with my body and put green smoothies in it and give it yoga. Through the yoga I am finally at peace with myself and understand myself and others and relationships so much better. I love it!
Lately I’ve been having this craving to go out to a bar and stay all night again, just to see if it would still be fun… not sure if it will happen anytime soon though. I don’t like to mess up my sleeping patterns; it makes me cranky 😉
I absolutely agree. It’s important to remember all that “fun” was followed by headaches and misery! I certainly do not miss that. If you go on a big night out – let me know how it goes! Namaste!
I recognize that tailgate 🙂
You were a witness to my funness!!
Hey, I still drink… I just can’t drink too much at once!
One of my favorite words is AND. I drink beer, AND green juice. I eat Ben and Jerry’s AND kale. I go to bed early AND stay out late. And holy shit, I have a lot of fun – hiking, road trips, trapeze classes, movie marathons, summer music festivals, beach days, lunch dates, and yes, teaching and taking yoga.
Life is supposed to be fun!!
Well, now I need to put trapeze classes on my to do list!! Thanks so much for reading!
I love this comment and agree with you wholeheartedly! ❤
I wrote an article on the matter not too long ago:
http://elitedaily.com/women/party-girl-yogi-learned-find-balance/962571/
I went to my first bikram class on Ash Wednesday– I’m adding something this year. Or maybe I’m giving up not doing yoga. 😉
Love it!! I know you can give up not doing yoga!!
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