Day #16 of 21

This is the 3rd Monday I have been on this path… and so I am very much looking forward to ending this mission. I have learned a few things that are very important for the rest of my life.

First — I know I am not chemically dependent on anything (note: for those thinking about doing this, 21 days may or may not be the right length of time to clean out your system; everyone is different, so use some common sense and listen to what your body is telling you), and if I wanted, could continue this pilgrimage indefinitely… although we all know that ain’t happening.

Second — I now understand that I must give this incredibly complex and wonderful body a rest after any alcohol and chemical intake. If you read what I posted on day #7, you’d realize how important it is to honor this machine… if anyone reading this has not cleared themselves out lately… please consider doing so. I now know my body will only be as good as its maintenance.

Third — I think this has been one of the best mind-body-spirit events of my life only because it has taught me so much about myself and what I can accomplish. There is nothing like moving forward in your life when you come face-to-face with your own addictions and crutches… it is painful to learn, but liberating to know you can beat it.

Fourth — and this is the most important — I am going to savor my next glass of red wine, the wonderful aroma of ganga and a Belvedere Vodka, dry, up, with olives. I look forward to seeing these old friends again, just not as often this time around.

There are only 5 more days to go on this journey, but as we all know, when one journey ends, another begins. And that is what I’ll be writing about on my new mission. I will be announcing my new 21 day mission next week, so stay tuned.

That’s about it for day #16. Life is sweet. Even with its many challenges.

Enjoy the tough times, and you will really love the good times.

Ciao.

Day #9 of 21

So I’m a bit behind… here it is on a Tuesday evening, my 10th day, and I’m writing about yesterday, my 9th day. There’s no rule that says I have to write about yesterday. In fact. who cares about yesterday? Instead, I think I’ll write about tomorrow. Which is really today.

So cheers to the past and present. It’s nice to have those in the bag, isn’t it? It’s something no one can take away from me.

As an update, day #9 was super-productive. I felt renewed energy and put in a solid 12 hour day. My body seems to be responding to its cleansing.

But it’s more than that. My mind… spirit… soul… call it what you want —something is responding inside me— and I haven’t felt this good in years.

Now that’s something. And it’s only the 9th day on this 21 day journey.

Tomorrow is a different story. It always is.

So off to tomorrow. Today. See you on day #10.

Day #2 of 21

Although this is only Day #2 of my little experiment, I have already experienced two separate temptations. Satan is indeed alive and well.

One, generated by stress and worry over a client’s longevity, had me thinking about a nice Cabernet sitting in a glass within my reach on my desk. That one glass would have been followed by another, and then another, until the bottle was almost empty, and then I would have finished it, justified with the thought that good wine should never be wasted.

The next enticement was created by a family matter… it had me reaching for a cold, frothy beer sitting in my fridge. That beer would have gone down soooo easily and of course, been followed within 2 minutes by at least 2 more.

But each episode was squelched by a little voice in my head, who I am finally listening to. The voice said, ‘think about your little 21 day mission’. And then I thought how unhappy I would be —but not surprised— if I had succumbed to these seductive, scantily clad sirens of happiness.

So today went well, at least as well as a Day #2 should go. However, it does illustrate the automatic nature of my cravings, and how impulse will rule if you let it. When thoughtful, I reached for water or a root beer, which satisfied me.

So Day #2 passed without incident… not bad for a Monday.

So here we are headed into Day #3… I’ll let you know how it goes.