I am approaching 9 months on the wagon, and besides health benefits, I noticed how much money I did not waste.
I see this one of the major benefits.

Saving Money

Alcoholism is an expensive habit. Depending on your lifestyle, your level of alcoholism, and your poison of choice, you could be spending anywhere from $70 to $300 a week on alcohol and drinking related activities. That’s an average of $3640 to $15,600 a year, or $36,400 to $156,000 over a decade of alcoholism.

Alcoholism can also have a devastating effect on your earning potential. Once you quit drinking, you can start focusing on getting a job, or advancing your education or career again. All those wasted hours spent in a drunken stupor can be put towards more productive ends.

I just got to say it, this thread represents the heart and soul of the forum: personal challenge, self-improvement, and encouragement from others.

good luck wi30 - Thing to do is focus your mind on the positives that being sober brings, eg better health, relationships, energy, finances, room for hobbies... Fact is that you do miss out on some stuff through not drinking, but from what you write it sounds like that is massively outweighed by the positives.

12 weeks dry, as of yesterday. I was apprehensive about returning home and informing my friends of my decision, particularly as the boozy Christmas period approached, but they've been remarkably supportive. I told them that I can't tolerate the hangovers anymore; most just nod their heads and say "I know what you mean".

I've been on a couple of big nights since getting back, one 15 hr coke and drink fulled rager which was fascinating to watch through sober eyes. The nights out have been tolerable, often even enoyable, up to about 1am when the bars begin to turn into cattle markets.

It hasn't been easy, but it hasn't been as difficult as I expected. Not yet anyway. However, I know challenges lie ahead and I'm probably still in the 'novelty phase' of the wagon.

One thing that's cool about not drinking, is just cutting yourself off from the group-think of 99% of people in bars. You can easily tell who's swallowed the blue-pill when they are incredulous about you ordering a mint tea while everyones getting the beers in.

serpico, are you in for a full 1 year wagon? In your first post in the thread you said that you would drink if any of your drinking buddies were around which means that you're not on the wagon, even if you are not drinking at the moment.

If you are in a for a full year -- no a single drink for 365 days (or 366 as the case may be) under any circumstances, come what may -- then please post your start date here.

I have decided to commit wholeheartedly to a year of no alcohol starting Jan 1, 2016.

I tried to go on the wagon in 2014, and got as far as 3 months without a drink, but I found it difficult, especially when spending much of the year traveling.

I am about two and a half months in and made it through every instance of the two things I was most concerned about, meetings with clients and holiday parties.

At one party it was like watching in slow motion the social spread of everyone putting drinks in each others hands and one guy getting wasted and making a comete fool of himself in front of a forgiving crowd.

I had to decline drinks three dozen times including one guy who tried 6+ himself. I finally replied its a liver detox thing to which he seemed to put me on some kind of drinking pedastal and showered me with respect for supposedly having drunk so much I damaged my liver. The implied cover story worked.

I rarely miss it.

Pretty much around this time of the day one year ago I had my last drink.
I've completed my one year wagon.

I have had my good and bad days but in retrospect it has been a very good and very necessary decision for me. An honest thank you to every guy in this thread, and another big thank you to TLOZ for starting it and all the support given here.

I'm enjoying the christmas celebrations with my family right now so this won't be a long post, maybe i'll go into some more detail in the next few days.

I have had some time to think about whether i should continue down this road or not and i honestly cannot imagine myself starting to drink again right now. So I'm in for another year. My wagon will roll on.

Everyone who is still on theirs, I wish you all the strength to see it through.

Take care and merry christmas!

(12-25-2015 02:29 PM)filio Wrote:  Pretty much around this time of the day one year ago I had my last drink.
I've completed my one year wagon.

I have had my good and bad days but in retrospect it has been a very good and very necessary decision for me. An honest thank you to every guy in this thread, and another big thank you to TLOZ for starting it and all the support given here.

I'm enjoying the christmas celebrations with my family right now so this won't be a long post, maybe i'll go into some more detail in the next few days.

I have had some time to think about whether i should continue down this road or not and i honestly cannot imagine myself starting to drink again right now. So I'm in for another year. My wagon will roll on.

Everyone who is still on theirs, I wish you all the strength to see it through.

Take care and merry christmas!

filio,

Thank you for taking the time in the midst of a family Christmas celebration to mark your wagon date.

Congrats on the 1 year wagon. It's a real achievement, and I hope you take some serious pride and satisfaction from it. +1 rep point from me.

And of course, welcome back aboard for year 2 as of December 25, 2015, and look forward to hearing more from you here over time.

(12-23-2015 03:49 PM)Mojorisin808 Wrote:  I have decided to commit wholeheartedly to a year of no alcohol starting Jan 1, 2016.

I tried to go on the wagon in 2014, and got as far as 3 months without a drink, but I found it difficult, especially when spending much of the year traveling.

Mojorisin, thanks for the post. I've wondered a few times how your 2014 wagon went.

Please post here again once you start on January 1, and I'll officially welcome you aboard.

Finally had a beer tonight. First drop of alcohol since October 2014. Almost 15 months, was waiting for the right occasion.

Highly recommend the year of sobriety. We talk about drugs and alcohol expanding your mind, well 12 months sobriety also expands your mind into looking at life differently. Do the 12 months it's worth it!

Hello all,

I hope you guys are all having a wonderful holiday season. I'm posting here a formal declaration; I have thus far been successful with my 1 Year Wagon commitment when it comes to alcohol, but I have begun smoking weed. I am really enjoying this process of abstaining from alcohol, but I know I must also quit smoking weed to adhere to the spirit of this commitment. Hence the reason I am posting here that as of the new year effective immediately I will not be smoking or doing any drugs of any kind either.

-PJ

I fell about a month ago... Not sure why I decided to hit the bottle, probably just boredom but it's been all downhill since.

I also hated explaining why I wasn't drinking on dates... Need to grow a pair and own it.

Restart is January 1, 2016.

(12-28-2015 01:35 AM)PJ25 Wrote:  Hello all,

I hope you guys are all having a wonderful holiday season. I'm posting here a formal declaration; I have thus far been successful with my 1 Year Wagon commitment when it comes to alcohol, but I have begun smoking weed. I am really enjoying this process of abstaining from alcohol, but I know I must also quit smoking weed to adhere to the spirit of this commitment. Hence the reason I am posting here that as of the new year effective immediately I will not be smoking or doing any drugs of any kind either.

-PJ

That's a good idea, PJ. Although the 1 year drinking wagon applies to alcohol only, it's always best not to seek substitutes for the drug you just set aside. By not trying to replace it, you will get the fullest and deepest benefits from your wagon, both in terms of raw physical health and in terms of the mental and spiritual benefits of not having to rely on a crutch to create interest, excitement, and relaxation.

(12-28-2015 12:10 PM)TheGreatBambino Wrote:  I fell about a month ago... Not sure why I decided to hit the bottle, probably just boredom but it's been all downhill since.

I also hated explaining why I wasn't drinking on dates... Need to grow a pair and own it.

Restart is January 1, 2016.

TheGreatBambino, that's alright. I have a feeling you will learn from this and be a lot stronger next time.

With dates and social stuff, you just have to bite the bullet and "own it", as you say -- not ostentatiously or belligerently, but firmly and politely. If you are calm, and your resolve is unshakable, people will very quickly give up on trying to challenge you; that goes for girls and guys alike.

As for boredom, well -- enduring boredom and all its subtle varieties is the experience that lies at the heart of the wagon, and you have to embrace it and trust that life will come to you, in the fullness of time. But you can never rush it or force it, you just have to keep going and let it happen. You should reflect on this now, so that next time you feel this boredom you will remember that it was always going to be part of the deal; that the wagon can never get to its destination without traversing the long, slow, flat, and fallow patches. You have to ride through the Great Plains in the depths of a long dark winter if, one day, you are to feast your eyes on a California sunset and feel your feet lapped by the warm sun-drenched salty waves.

Please post here again once you restart on January 1, and I will welcome you back aboard then.

Looked at this last year, but had a different set of challenges.
Now is a good time.

I'm in.

(12-31-2015 05:12 PM)Spader Wrote:  Looked at this last year, but had a different set of challenges.
Now is a good time.

I'm in.

Spader, are you in for a full year? If so, please post your start date here.

(12-31-2015 06:36 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 05:12 PM)Spader Wrote:  Looked at this last year, but had a different set of challenges.
Now is a good time.

I'm in.

Spader, are you in for a full year? If so, please post your start date here.

Yes, one year, starting today. 12/31/15

will share more later...but just wanted to mark the challenge start

(12-31-2015 07:25 PM)Spader Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 06:36 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 05:12 PM)Spader Wrote:  Looked at this last year, but had a different set of challenges.
Now is a good time.

I'm in.

Spader, are you in for a full year? If so, please post your start date here.

Yes, one year, starting today. 12/31/15

will share more later...but just wanted to mark the challenge start

Thank you Spader. Welcome aboard as of December 31, 2015 and look forward to hearing more when you get a chance.

Happy new year guys! I'm glad to say I have completed my wagon. I didn't drink a single tip of alcohol during the year 2015, albeit there were some pretty interesting times. I'll break down my wagon for you:

Pre-Wagon: I had some pretty rough things going on my personal life and I knew that if wouldn't stop drinking for a while it could turn out into a problem. I already had increased the frequency of drinking and I was using too much of my limited spendings for that. I needed change and the wagon seemed the change I needed. I went drinking last time on New Year's Eve and ended before midnight. I was at a night club when the year changed. I remember I tried to pull this pretty black girl but she wasn't biting it so I called it a night. One of my friends called my while I was on my way home and invited me to a park. I actually tried to find the park, but I wasn't sure where it is. I also didn't feel like explaining that I have started year of not drinking during that time so I went home to sleep. My wagon was about to begin.

January: It begins, I remember craving alcohol and the moments it gave me. I could feel how I got seperated with one of my drinking buddies for the better and worse. He was actually a pretty good friend and he definitely had some game, but our communication never really worked so I guess it was just a matter of time. I also complained on this thread about losing opportunity with this crazy girl, thirsty me The most important thing to keep my focus out of alcohol (being on the wagon forces you to think alcohol) was that I had something to do. My studies continued so I put my focus to them. I remember beeing a bit anxious about telling people about my wagon.

February to May: Craving of alcohol went down and down every month. I also started telling people about my wagon and I always got a positive feedback. I was pretty surpriced, drinking has too much importance in social life in Northern Europe. I also completed all the studies I wanted, good job me. I also went to bars with some of my friends for the first time on wagon, dead sober.

June: I got sick, I pretty much spent one month indoors just wasting my time. Luckily I had regular whom I could spend time with and bang. I knew I would have an interesting adveture in July with chance to drink for free multiple times, so I even consided quitting the wagon. Life was feeling pretty dull after too much time inside.

July: I had a great, sober adventure during July. It was actually one of the most interesting journeys of my life. While I had to skip the drinking parts, it just made me realize more and more that you can enjoy life without booze, something which I've used too much to get new experiences.

August: Preparing for my second, bigger journey of the year. I remember having all kind of feelings about it. Scared, excited, anxious, happy, but definitely something I have to do. I also started thinking more and more activies I can do sober. First half of the year I focused greatly on my studies so this was the first time I had enough time to do that.

September: I fly to Shanghai for the first time in my life and meet a RVF member on my first day to do some night game. I almost pull, but due to her drinking too much I couldn't seal the deal. Her mother hen also was really protective. We went out on a another night as well to this really special place where the bar is hidden like in a James Bond movie. Highly recommend to visit, the atmosphere is something really special.

October: First time I went out to "drink" with Chinese people. The number one thing I noticed is that the peer pressure is much higher. While in Finland the people were okay with it, in China they're where like why don't you drink, come on take it and so on. It may also be that in Finland I could explain myself better, in China I had to invent excuses due to communication problems.

November: Peer pressure is still high and I went out with Chinese people more than last month. Luckily I was prepared and I just showed some pills and explained I have to eat medicine so no drink for me. All kind of non-drinking-activies are also popular in Asia so every month I attended more and more of those. Feels really great that life is just not about drinking like it can sometimes feel in Northern Europe.

December: Last month of the wagon. The closer the wagon ending was, the more pressure I felt not to drink and avoid any kind of alcohol products. I didn't want to fail, but it also felt really unconfortable. I tried by the best of my means to avoid any kind of activities with any alcohol. I was scared of failing by accident. But I did it! And I'm glad I did.

After-Wagon: While I still haven't touched alcohol, I'm not going to continue the wagon by another year. The wagon had it's time and place and it definitely helped me to have better relationship with alcohol. Now I can just say no if I don't want to drink. It also helped me to focus on my life outside of alcohol, which I've learned to enjoy more and more as well. Before I focused too much on activies where I could drink. Now I'm going to use alcohol as a friend, not as a niche. In Finland we have a saying that says "Tuli on hyvä renki, mutta huono isäntä", which roughly means "Fire is a good servant, but a bad host". I'm going to change it a bit and say that "Alkoholi on hyvä renki, mutta huono isäntä", "Alcohol is a good servant, but a bad host".

PS. I remember reading that some young member wanted to start the wagon and some people were against it. I'm personally 22, so I'll say that just do it. I highly recommend it to anyone, regardless of age. While wagon at the age of 18 (or whatever is the legal drinking age where you live) might sound crazy, it's definitely a different kind of challenge than at older age. I have friend who did the wagon at the age of 19, I wouldn't be surpriced if he got the idea from here as well.

Monxp, thank you for this post, and congrats for completing a rare rigorous young wagon. +1 rep point from me.

This was my goal for 2015. I lasted a while, almost two months before I caved but since then I drank heavier and more frequently before from March to end of Nov. Cut back significantly in December (i.e. christmas) and for January going to do the full 12 months.

It is an inconvenient expense where the money could be going towards better things. Example a new apartment I'm considering moving to as well as improving the quality of food that I've been eating.

Great reading your story above Monxp! Pretty inspiring stuff.

Good luck to all of those doing this this year!

Happy New Year! Just completed the wagon. This has definitely been the best year of my life and I feel like a different person. The wagon really helped me realize that alcohol was just a distraction from the things I really want to accomplish with my life. In for another year!

scallleywag, that is great to hear. Congrats on the 1 year wagon, and +1 rep from me.

And welcome back aboard for year 2 as of January 1, 2016.