Gut reactions

Here on vacation, I am really noticing that many of my gut reactions are still based on the premise that I drink.....

1) Situation:  Family member asked if I wanted to go for a run in the morning.

Gut Response:  Immediately I thought to myself....."will I be able to or will I feel well enough?"   

Assessment: duh, I'm not drinking, I will feel fine!

2) Situation: Family wanted to go out for the evening.

Gut Response:  I wonder who will be the designated driver?

Assessment: duh, ME, I'm the one who isn't drinking!

3) Situation: Client issue and client suggested I call back at 8pm my time.

Gut Response:  I wondered if that would be wise as I might have too much wine in me.

Assessment: duh, I'm not drinking....calling back after dinner will not be a problem.

I realize that so much of my life was planned around drinking.  Whether I could be functional later in the evening, wondering how I would get home, and wondering how I would feel in the morning drove so much of what I did and how I acted.

I must have missed out on so many beautiful mornings.  I would never contemplate an early morning run before (okay, I really never contemplated a run, period). 

I would avoid going out in the evening because I knew I would drink too much to drive.  It was easier to stay at home.

I would avoid finishing up some work issues in the evening because I might make mistakes or sound incoherent on the phone.

This non drinking is very habit changing in many more ways than just not drinking.  I am having to entirely relearn how to respond, in my mind, to various situations!

HD