I’m a once a week drinker. That’s not too bad I guess. The problem is once I start, there seems to be no off switch I can find. If I have one or two glasses I’m fine, but after that it seems as though it’s a case of “keep going till I pass out”. Frankly I’m too old for it. I don’t get hangovers, which probably is a good thing, but I think if I did, I’d probably drink less.

I drink to celebrate, to procrastinate and frankly I mostly drink because I’m bored. Bored and possibly lonely, but lets just stick to bored shall we.

One thing I’ve noticed is that with the rise in the desire to write again, I’m finding myself more and more “tempted” for want of a better word to indulge in a glass of wine or two. Or a bottle. Perhaps it’s so I don’t have to worry about the writing, or because I know the headache I’ll have the next day ensures there’s no chance of doing anything other than lying on the bed watching TV.

Last year, I decided to participate in Dry July. To explain what it is I’ve taken this from their website;

“Dry July is a non-profit organisation determined to improve the lives of adults living with cancer through an online social community giving up booze for the month of July.

Whether joining as a part of a team or as an individual, DJ’s (Dry.July.er [dee-jay] noun: a person or team actively sponsored to participate in Dry July) take on the 31 days of July to raise funds and directly help adults living with cancer and their families to improve their quality of life.

This year Dry July is proud to have on board twenty beneficiaries across Australia and New Zealand. The campaign operates a full circle fundraising model, which gives DJ’s clarity on how beneficiary funds are used within each hospital. It is important to the Dry July Team to deliver an efficient, low-cost campaign, utilising online technology to minimise administration costs.

Dry July is also a chance to raise awareness of individual drinking habits, the value of a balanced healthy lifestyle, a personal challenge, encourage positive change and an awareness of a healthy attitude to alcohol consumption.”

No one I knew thought I’d last a month, myself included but I did. By the time the month was over I was actually really pleased with the fact I’d not drunk any alcohol. I didn’t raise any money last year, and I’m not certain I will this year either, times are tough all over the place.

This year, I’ve decided to do Dry July again. Instead of just ignoring the thought of “let’s have a drink” I’m going to start exercising and try to quit smoking at the same time. Not to mention doing a little bit of something called writing.

I guess the perhaps of this post is mostly to let people know about Dry July, and also to begin examining the reasons behind my drinking. The days of drinking to cure boredom or celebrate or commiserate or coming to end for me. I figure if I don’t enjoy it when I’m doing it, why do it at all.

If you are looking for more information on Dry July, or feel like donating a dollar or two to help me raise some money for Cancer research feel free to click here for more information.