This is my last hangover…at least for a year.

On November 8th, a day after another middle-aged birthday, I started a year of abstinence from drinking alcohol. I’m not a particularly heavy drinker but I’ve noticed that drinking more than two glasses of anything affects me profoundly. The morning after I can’t really do yoga because inverting my head would cause me no end of pain, I don’t sleep and as a result I zombie through the next day because I’m awful without 7 hours. I know, it sounds familiar but it doesn’t happen that often so what’s the problem?

There isn’t one, really. This is less of a problem solving issue than a social experiment. Most people think that a year without drinking is a real challenge. I think they’re worried about being perceived as boring and a killjoy.

“I could go a month. Maybe three months but a year?”

“You’ll probably never drink again after that.”

“Think of how much money you’ll save.” (reaction from my 25 year old son — ulterior motive?)

It’s not about the money or even the challenge; it’s about the time. I feel that this year is going to be important for me and I want to be present for it, every minute of it. And I can’t be if I drink.