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Four Days Ago I was Content and Happy and Sober
So why this morning did I wake up feeling so despondent?
Four days ago I arrived back from an epic trekking trip in Nepal*. “Epic” both in its physicality, and its sheer fun. And the people, the food, the scenery. It was amazing. If you ever get the chance, go there!
* This piece was written in Nov 2019 and has been lingering in my drafts. There has been no 2021 trip to Nepal, sadly……
While I was away, I pondered (and wrote) a lot about my struggles with sobriety. I had daily opportunities to drink with my companions, but never felt the desire to. In fact, the opposite — as the days went on and even though I was tired and sore, I have never felt more amazing (apart from my cartilage deficient left knee — big ouch on the downwards slopes).
I even managed to cope with the (sketchy) retreat leader’s bratty kids ruining the serenity with their almost constant whining, crying and tantrum-throwing, with not a drop. Normally that kind of intense annoyance would have me running straight to the bar.
Confession: I had a cider the night we got back to Kathmandu. One and half, actually. I am OK with that and don’t see it as wrecking my sobriety. I don’t normally drink cider, but it was that or beer which I don’t like. I know I could have…