Awesome article Andy, I don’t consider myself a scholar of all things alcohol, but a friend of mine who is tells me AA’s call what you’re experiencing “The Promises”. I googled them and thought I’d share. I always thought it was so strange why others cared so much why I didn’t drink, so I’d answer their judgements with “How does my not drinking affect your ability to have a good time?”. Usually there’s just a blank stare and silence as they contemplate their “need” of alcohol as a social lubricant.

The AA Promises (pretty good way to live life alcoholic or not): If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us — sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.