Don’t drink and write.
There was a time when I thought a glass of wine (or two, or three) released my creative flow. But no. More often than not, I found myself having to rewrite whatever I’d written the night before. It may have seemed amusing, dramatic, or intelligent at the time, but the mind-altering liquid was not helpful.
It has been over a year since I stopped drinking alcohol, and I have to say, I’ve been the most productive I’ve ever been. Stories flow, my mind is clear, and most importantly, I remember what I’ve written.
During the first pandemic lockdown, I decided not to drink. I’d moved into a new apartment to live on my own; warm sunshine beckoned, and I wanted to get fit. I took on a cycle challenge, and for six weeks, I felt amazing. At that time, I started writing a new book and finished it quickly. But then we were allowed to start socialising again, albeit at a distance, and the call of wine proved greater than my will.
Celebrating being able to see friends again, a new relationship, freedom — whatever the excuse, I found myself drinking even more than I did before. I loved wine, but did wine love me? It muddled my head. I became less productive. A fuzzy mind is not conducive to creativity. Still, I continued because I thought I enjoyed it. But one fine day, I decided to stop. Nothing dramatic happened. I simply realised the wine had a hold of me when I thought I had a hold of the wine. It wasn’t a good feeling, and if something doesn’t feel good, it’s a no-brainer: stop! It’s not like I drank all day long; it tended to be a few glasses at night, every night.
I wasn’t unhappy; in fact, I was the happiest I’d been in years. It’s difficult to fathom, but wine always seemed to be calling. In a mutual decision, my boyfriend and I decided to quit all alcohol. We’d come to the same conclusion: it wasn’t adding to our lives. Being on the same page at the time helped tremendously. I like to think that if he hadn’t felt the same, I could have quit anyway, but I’ll never know. We stopped at a full stop in February 2022, and here we are 15 months later, happier, healthier, and much wiser. Our productivity levels have soared. No more fuzzy heads in the morning. No alcohol-related tiredness. Longer working days.
The great thing is, none of our friends ever pressure us to drink alcohol with them. Most of them have reduced their intake anyway. Even people we don’t know so well don’t make a comment if we decline a glass of wine, beer, or spirit. This wasn’t my experience many years ago when I had dry periods (not that there were many). There was a time when people were suspicious when I wouldn’t join them for an alcoholic beverage. I’d get that squint-eyed, disbelieving look. Now we get quizzed on what we think the benefits are. Well, that’s easy: better skin, better energy, and better brain power. For me, it has improved my voice too, as I used to suffer with vocal problems.
I recently saw a post on Instagram from a guy who was a former addict. He met up with Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones a while back, and Ronnie suggested he try going teetotal, saying he’d feel higher than on any drug. This guy tried it and definitely agrees. While I am fortunate enough not to have been an addict in the true sense of the word (although the allure of wine was addictive at one time), I totally get this.
What has also helped, I think, is that there has never been a better time to go teetotal. A vast array of non-alcoholic beverages are available in pubs, restaurants and supermarkets. My greatest find is non-alcoholic Guinness. I used to love Guinness, and now I don’t have to miss the taste at all. I remember giving up alcohol for six months in my late teens following a bad gin session, and getting fed up with having to drink sweet fizzy drinks or water. That’s no longer a problem. I am told the non-alcoholic spirits are really good too.
Instead of people looking at us like we’re weird when we ask for a non-alcoholic drink, all I see in their eyes is curiosity. People often tell us they are considering doing the same or have already cut back. They want to know how it feels, and if it will truly benefit them. Ask the medical profession, they will soon tell you. Alcohol leads to all manner of nasties unless taken in moderation.
I’m no evangelist, and I always say, “To each their own.” I have nothing against people drinking alcohol. But, whenever I walk through the city and see people worse for wear thanks to drink, piles of sick in alleyways, or hear people screaming drunkenly at each other, I do think hey, you’d be so much happier and healthier if you gave it up!
Thank you for reading. If you’d like to check out my short stories, please visit PetraKidd.com or see links below.
E-books
E-book/Paperback
The Apartment Block Series is new on my blog. Step inside the apartment block and meet a cast of characters who will intrigue and amuse you.
