Cutting the Habit

The Car You Know by Heart

The car was new, but over time it simply wore out. There was a familiarity in that car — you knew exactly where everything was. The sounds were expected and often not noticeable.

Cutting alcohol was like getting rid of an old, familiar, comfortable car. When it was new, you had to adjust to where the knobs were, which switch made that thing go. At first you had to look for the key slot, but over time it became an automatic movement. The radio controls became muscle memory when you needed to skip a station. There were no scratches, dents, or bruises.

Back When You Were Careful

Back then you were very careful. Slowly pulling into parking spots, backing out deliberately, staying aware of how far you could pull up before hitting something. Over time, you'd back that thing without thought and knew its dimensions like an extension of your own body.

A new scratch or dent was upsetting, but years went by with more and more defects showing up. These became part of the noise that is your car. This is your car.

Alcohol Works the Same Way

Alcohol is much the same, especially in excess. It takes time to figure out the quantities and qualities of different things. Like the first scratch on the car, too much alcohol was a big deal. But after a while it became normal. Starting slow became a thing of the past. Moderation was no longer important.

Leaving that old car behind — one you loved for years — is a journey.

Trading the Comfort In

Walking away from alcohol is just like this. You are trading in this comfort for something new. Automatically finding the key slot is a thing of the past. This new car is no longer an extension of you.

But over time — a shorter time than you may believe — this new car is just as comfortable as the old one. The new habits replace the old ones. We adapt in a different way as we get comfortable.

But one day, you get rid of that comfort.