Finished reading: Sayonara: A Novel by James A. Michener π
Here is my review. This is a test of where this will be blogged and if there is a link back to the book in my shelf?
South llano river. Junction Texas
Video: 4 Things I Learned being a Lifeguard at 54 years old. … spoiler - I am the 54 year old. youtu.be/5VniIivUj…
Laissez Faire
I grew up in south Louisiana. It was a blessing and a curse. The culture there is unlike any other place in the world.
Laissez faire is the feeling of the day.
Allow to do is the literal meaning. But generally it means accepting an attitude of letting things take their own course. Let the people do as they choose.
It is a great feeling to live in that culture.
- The Music
- The Food
- The Good Times
A consequence of this culture is that it revolves around alcohol. Every event has alcohol. From birth to death: alcohol.
The drinking age was still 18 when I turned 18. Louisiana was the last state in the union to change the age to 21. I had my first beer at 16.
I considered myself a social drinker until I turned 45. The problem was I was very social. I enjoyed drinking. It was fun. I felt accepted. People enjoyed being around me. I projected that laissez faire attitude.
But thoughts where there. Do I drink too much? Maybe I would be more “successful” if I drank less? But then the thoughts of if I express these feelings people will think I am an “alcoholic” then what? I am will be judged every time they see me drink.
But something else happened. When I did finally share with my friends that I would be taking extended breaks from drinking, most stated that I did not seem to have a “problem” or any issue at all.
I decided then and there that the label alcoholic was not for me.
But I did not accept my friends opinion either that I did not have problem.
I was not sure what I “was” or what I “had” but I did not care anymore. I knew there was something there that I needed to address.
I was addicted to alcohol. But I was not an alcoholic.
Alcohol is an addictive and progressive substance. That means that we build a tolerance to its use. That tolerance leads to us using more (drinking more) to get the same effect. It becomes a trap.
If this story resonates with you, here is the truth.
You might be addicted to alcohol but you can over come it.
Yes, you will have to face this addiction head on but you will not have to die in this ditch.
Let me put it another way.
You are riding an elevator and it only goes down and there is a rock bottom somewhere down there. The good news is that you do not have to wait to hit rock bottom. You have the power to exit right now. Today.
Hear me calling to you with good news.
The bad news is there is no elevator back up. You have to take the stairs.
It will be work. Hard work. But I am here on the other side calling to you. I am here to help show you the way.
Take a step with me. Download my free guide. ββHow to Quit Alcohol by Terry Grier 2023.pdfβ
Read. Implement it.
I wrote a free guide for you. It is the exact guide I wish I had when I started my journey in 2016. It is the process I followed. Everything is in it.
Then let me know what you thought of it. I βprovided a special email address at the end of the guide.
I look forward to seeing your name in my inbox.
And always remember,
Never give up on yourself. Never.
Terry Grier
PS. I posted a video about the free guide and starting.
Technology is a doubled-edged sword. Technology giveth and taketh away and not always in equal measure.
Texas Coast
Today I met @jean in person. We had a wonderful time talking about Micro.blog, how awesome life is being alcohol free and about life in general.
Interview with Light Phone user Paige Weber
I have had my flip phone since September 2022.
It was excitement to try it, followed by frustration, followed by a resetting of expectation and then settling in.
Youtube is the only social network I use and since embarking on this flip phone journey my Youtube has been sending me more and more videos of others on the same journey.
I decided to email some of these people and Paige was gracious enough to give me a shot at an interview.
So today I interviewed Paige Weber. She has used a DumbPhone at least a year. She started with a basic flip phone and recently moved the a light phone.
We discuss a wide range of topics all centered around living a more intentional life. The discussion was broader than just a discussion of the pros and cons and this choice including how smartphone and the lack of a smart phone is creating a digital divide but in the other direction.
Here is a link the YouTube Video
I would love to hear your thoughts.
You can get other thoughts and updates by joining my private newsletter.
Your Flip Phone Friend Terry
I posted a Video on using a flip phone in 2022. Beware that I drop a lot of F-Bombs. Sunbeam Wireless Daisy Model.
Why Wait?
To My Friend: 11/19/2022
Why wait until Jan 1, 2023 to start a new habit? Why dig the hole you are in any deeper? The pull to drink alcohol is in you. You hear the voice. But there is a voice in there too that wants you to change.
If you do nothing, you know where this path will lead.
When you hear “Now is not the right now time - we have the holidays coming” Which voice is this talking to you?
That is the problem with change. It is hard. It is easier when there is a roadblock or we are forced to change.
- We get fired from a job.
- Someone we love breaks up with us.
- The Doctor tells us we have cancer.
You have to stop this and reverse course at some point. Why not now. Right now.
Now, sit with your cup of tea or coffee and reflect on what you would feel like if on Jan 1, 2023 if you do not drink through the holidays. Think about being on day 40 of your journey vs starting on day 1.
I assure you day one’s suck balls.
Write about this feeling. The sense of accomplishment going into 2023 vs the dread of drinking and having to start over… again.
Change is not easy. It will be harder tomorrow. It will be even harder on Jan 1, 2023.
Make a decision today. Never. Ever. Doubt the decision.
I am here for you. Terry
If you would like to receive emails that will help you get sober - here is my private email list.
Hey MB Tech Peeps- icloud custom domain - I am trying to understand it. It does not give you a 2nd inbox with that domain but rather it takes over our icloud domain. Is that correct?
Personal CRM How do you handle how often you talk to your friends? When you should call someone? Maybe send them a thank you card for that last dinner? I am curious how my MB friends do this in their personal lives.
With all of the fanfare about beta.icloud.com - You cannot add a date to a reminder. Only a note. How can you still have a reminder app but not allow the web interface access to the date?
Barbara Jordon
Flip Phone Blues: Shop will not provide me a tracking number unless I install their app.