I heard about HSM on radio national one day. I had previously thought about our drinking culture as i had experienced its how hard it was to remove myself from it. When I was 17 I decided that i was no longer going to binge on weekends like my peers. I started jogging/mountain biking/exercising daily and stayed home on weekends. I drank heaps of water, ate well and felt great. I was fit, energetic and positive. But i found myself isolated and at times lonely. Slowly falling back into a slightly enjoyable but destructive social lifestyle of regular drinking, parties and drug taking. I dont want to do this anymore! I am glad that this site is here to remind me that I'm not alone and to show others that it is possible to break these habits and develop healthy ones in their place. I know a man who has drank everyday for many years.. It is catching up with him now and it is sad to see how it is affecting him. slowly but surely killing him. this deep pain in his eyes. I don't want to end up like this. Both of my grandfathers died from smoking. my friends dad died from alcohol related diseases, my friend killed himself after a long battle with drug and alcohol addiction. another friends brother hung himself, he was a heavy drug user. why does this happen? why is smoking and drinking legal? I know I cant blame all of these issues on drugs and alcohol.. I think the problem is embedded far deeper in our culture. But this drinking culture does not help and participating in HSM to me seems like it is a positive step towards making some real changes in the way we are living our lives.