Sadly, I never met my grandfather and that is why I will never drink alcohol. Now let me give you some background to my tragic tale before I continue without introduction. My dad’s dad died when my dad was just 7-years-old due to pneumonia while he was on an arctic hunting trip. One of the major culprits of this sickness…alcohol in excess. My grandfather was an alcoholic and it affected my dad negatively as a child. My dad would stay up at night and wait for his dad to come home to tuck him into bed. Unfortunately, he had an important date with his Scotch Neat.
My dad followed in his dad’s footsteps and developed a very close relationship with alcohol. My mom was worried that he may go down the same path my grandfather did and she would lose her husband. Luckily, I was born and it changed my dad’s way of thinking. He swore that he would quit drinking alcohol completely when I was born because it wasn’t a necessary component of being a good parent. A parent that was there for his children. A parent with no distractions or addictions.
So why do I believe in not drinking alcohol and how have I enforced it in my own life? Now don’t get me wrong. I will not condemn someone who believes drinking is okay for them. I personally believe that I can have a tremendous time in life without alcohol. Will I go out with my friends and enjoy a party or two…absolutely! There are responsible drinkers that are smart about their consumption of alcohol and I commend them. Alcohol is not truly the problem, it is the misuse of it.
I have goals in my life such as keeping my body as healthy as possible, singing and making music and someday being the best mom I can be for my future children. I believe by making these conscious efforts as a college student, it will shape the way I make decisions as I emerge into full adulthood. Being a college student and remaining abstinent from alcohol is a challenge that I face daily. Again, I do not believe in judging those who do drink alcohol. It is a personal preference for everyone, but it does not fit into my lifestyle and goals.
In the wise word of Carl Jung, “Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.”
Excellent.