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I’ve just passed the 1 month milestone and got to say it feels good.  The clarity of mind you get about an alternative (not getting pissed) is immense.  Disappointingly, it appears I am succeeding on the no alcohol front, but I have found that everything else just doesn’t fall into place as a result.  There is much more work for me to do before I finish my HSM.  More on that later.

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So back to bloody Dry July…. you see, I’m not a big fan of fundraising through activities where the participant gets more out of it than they give.  The calendar is now chock-a-block with personal challenges for a cause, which directly leads to an inbox chock-a-block with requests for donations.  I know they are for a good cause, it raises awareness and raises funds, but can’t people just front up a couple of bucks themselves and get a pat on the back.

With some confusion, I now have to say that Dry July has helped enormously as the idea of no alcohol was top-of-mind for many people.  When someone asked me when I was out whether I was doing Dry July, I just said ‘yes’ to keep things simple.  Traitor!!!!!!  I am sorry HSM.  I feel awful.

This confusion does lead me to my non-confusion about HSM.  The more I read the blogs the more I’m happy that I have started it.  It seems to work well because we all individually decide to take up what appears to be a daunting challenge.  For me, there was no other reason why I did this than to re-learn something and prove a point to myself.  Raising awareness seems to be the cherry on top.  Simple.  And coming from a corporate social responsibility work background, it’s great when community projects have clear, positive outcomes, and not overcome by rules or corporate sponsors (yet??).  A great time to be a part of it!

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On to the next few months… I thought that giving up the booze for a bit would allow me to focus and reap the rewards in other areas like work’n’play.  It appears I have to do some pre-work.  Self-confidence doesn’t just suddenly return.  So the next challenge is to get my groove thing happening.

‘avaegreatday.

Jimbo.

Random discussion point #1:   Who do you think has the title of best drinker/musician?  My entry is Tow Waits.  Anyone who comes up with a title “The Piano has been drinking(not me)” has to be up there.

Jimmy, mate ah… Jimmy, you coulda been anything. 

Workin’ on the railway, leanin’ on a broom,

Over at the early opener tryin’ to find some room. 

…well, it went something like that.

It’s part of a song from a double album of Australiana that my Grandpa sent me while I was working in China for a year.  I shouldn’t remember the words because it was a quite a dud song, but I have recounted the words many times.

The ideas of opportunity wasted, laziness, and beer has sat so comfortably with me at times that it coundn’t not be sung with gusto.

And this is why I started HSM last week – to give opportunities that float by a good crack.   In the past, my love for a big day/night out has left me ‘leanin on the broom’ on way…way too many days.  So HSM is an experiment to see what happens when you are up and at ’em seven days a week.  Lets see how much awesomeness(nice one, Chris) can be experienced with family, friends, work, play, and a clear head.  

Co-incidentally, I started the HSM in the last couple of days on a trip back to China, the place where I had worked and taken my graduate diploma in drinking-to-get-drunk before.  The plan was to start the HSM precisely on the Monday when I returned, but instead I started early – be it only by a few days.  A little victory to work off, me thinks.  

So it’s 3 months or until I’ve learnt enough, whichever comes last.

Jimbo