I frequented many bars and drank with a lot of people on a regular basis over the years. I sometimes wonder, but not too often, what my old drinking buddies might be thinkin since I quit drinkin. What are they saying? I can hear it now. Im a fly on the wall. I can hear them saying, what happened to Earl? or I wonder if drinking killed Earl, I havent seen him for years. or I wonder if Earls in prison, maybe hes in the big house for vehicular homicide.

The correct answer is something nobody dare asked, and that is, Have you seen Earl, maybe he quit drinking? Then maybe nobody cares at all and nobodys made any inquires at all. I can care less what they think. Theyre not real friends, only former drinking buddies. I dont miss them, why should they miss me.

Some friends know that I quit, but where are they now? They quit coming around my place to visit me because they know I havent any booze to offer them. Some of my real friends visit me anyway. Theyre real friends. They are the ones that dont entice me or run me down and accuse me of being too good for them or being pure. They arent the ones that would like for me to fall on my face and relapse. They arent the ones that find pleasure in me being a complete failure in life. These are friends worth keeping.

I think its funny in a sense, because thats the way I use to think. Whats the use of living, if you quit drinking, whats left to live for? is a statement I often heard and I agreed with before I quit drinking.

I was strangled and paralyzed when I was drinking. It had a grip on my life I cant rightly explain. I couldnt go anywhere without drinking and knowing that booze wouldnt be offered to me. Id be sweating without the thought of booze on my mind. I thought I was having fun.

These days of me not drinking are pleasant. I lost a few friends, or were they friends? I am not fearing what happened the night before. Im not rushing to my window on a hangover to see if my car is at home. Im not struggling to remember what I did or say the night before. Im not sweating in my sheets and blankets and shutting the blinds in a quest for darkness. I have no hangovers and pounding headaches. My mind is clear. Im not making excuses for myself. Im no longer the life of the party. I must be bored now that I quit drinking. On the contrary, Im living again.

Now that I quit drinking, I am taking the time to chase and trap moles that are destroying my lawn, pull weeds, smell the flowers, water the garden, cuddle a pet, feed the birds, go to a concert or a sports event that I will remember, listening to my music, getting involved with my hobbies that I use to love. I enjoy reading and writing again. I have fresh smelling clothes and a fresh breath to match. I am no longer being obnoxious and playing the role of a stupid loser. I enjoy camping and fishing for the right reasons. I am calm and rational. I have improved my attendance at work and enjoying my time off to do all of these things.

Its been three years that Ive been sober now. I must admit the things that still irritate me a little. These include family and friends expecting me to be something Im not--a social butterfly. I quit drinking, I didnt transform my personality. Thats too much work. My focus is not drinking. That is the only thing that matters--my sobriety. I still am my self. How dare people to make me something Im not.

Paying bills and taxes is another thing that irritates me, but you know something--I have the money to pay them now, although I still cringe. I admit I have turned into a hermit in seclusion, but thats okay, as long as I dont take a drink and ruin my life. I am a private person, Ive always been that way. When I think of boredom, I think of drinking my life away and not living it. Thats boredom to me. I dont waste my time anymore and wonder what theyre thinkin since I quit drinkin.