Sunday, February 26, 2012

ON Becoming a WINE-less Whine-Less Woman


I think we all have habits , indulgences we wish we could stop or want to curb. I think often, since I'm getting wayyyy up in years, about the actions in life that I do, that have a marked affect on others around me. Especially my children, and other family members. Also , being a Christian, on observers watching me, and wondering about my faith.
If I have a glass of wine or two at a gathering, a dinner, at home, wherever.
Shown above is my very favorite item I bought in Charleston, at the downtown market Charleston Historic Foundation store. A beeuuttteeefull wine glass with scenes of Charleston all around it.
I love, and I mean LOVE, to drink wine out of this particular goblet. I can see my favorite city, all around when I bring it up to sip, it makes me happy. Plus my wine makes me happy. I am a fairly low tolerance drinker( aka-cheap drunk), as two glasses of wine, 2 1/2 max, makes me buzzy/zippy/relaxed. The problem that I have always had, is whenever I take a sip, I have seen, glance at me, watching me, ever so briefly... my children's eyes. Those eyes are older now, and my children, the adult ones, have made their own choices about drinking , and they mostly do.
But there has always, and I mean always, been a nagging feeling, telling me to stop drinking. I rationalize that I don't drink alot, but I do drink daily, and I can admit I drink not only to relax, but to celebrate and often to not feel pain inside. That last one is a poor reason, but is true.
I have also had a family member a few weeks ago, admit being an alcoholic, that in turn made me feel worse, responsible, and a poor example to them over the years.
So I gave myself a talking to, bounced it off my husband, ( have done this many times over the decades), and he says it is fine and easy to not drink. But he doesn't like my beautiful Charleston wine glasses as much as I do. And he's not a hyper/anxious/worry-wart like I am. And he doesn't cook big pots of homemade soup with a pretty wine glass beside him. He actually can drink way more than I can, but...
it's tougher for me to stop completely, as my basic personality is very habit-routine oriented. And I enjoy my glass(es) of wine immensely.
Or did.
 A fairly sissy wine drinker who drinks very sissy sweet wines. White Zinfandel, Riesling, Blush, etc.
But no more, not for 5 nights now.

First night I was pretty irritable, no pretty wine glass with my dinner.
Bummer. I was even irritable last night. So I subbed a pretty water glass I found above. It is nice, it is pretty, just not Charleston- scenic pretty. I called the gift shop and asked if they made my favorite ones in iced tea glasses, I know I saw Brandy tumblers, and the wine glasses, but no word back yet.
When I put them together to photograph them, I see they are almost the same size ! Appears I was drinking a large glass of wine, but I notice that most people drink out of the large and even the extra large goblets these days, compared to the 5 oz. old glasses ( measured mine and they go to about 8 ounces) that people used to drink from. I had to put my pretty goblets out of reach and I try not to look at them, as they make me want to fill them up and cook something or let them be a partner with my dinner plate.
So you see, I am trying to do what my conscience, my heart, has always told me I need to do. I foremost want to be a good example to my children. I have other reasons, and I am going to write more posts about this to help encourage anyone else who has thought about quitting drinking, even social drinking, totally, to do so. You may not be a raging alcoholic, drinking during the day, losing your job, destroying your relationships, but you may notice you don't feel right about drinking alcohol like you used to.
You may notice you drink more than you used to, you look forward to that glass of wine or beer a little too much, you don't like going out to a social event unless there is alcohol, you also plan your drinking times later in the day, make sure you have your wine, beer, or liquor available.

I think when all that starts to happen ( and many more), then alcohol, drinking, has a tighter grip on you than you want to admit to your own self.

What has been disturbing to me lately, are all the children's birthday parties with adults also drinking alcohol and partying alongside their 5 year olds. What is also disturbing are children's sporting end of the year parties for them with parents ( including me), drinking wine or beer with all of them swimming or playing around us.
Going to the beach and adults drinking beer or liquor all day watching their children play in the water. It is like the the 20-30-40 yr. olds  group of parents ( not all, please know I am only talking about some ), think it is cool, acceptable, fun to party when they are with other children's parents and their kids.
That was unheard of even 20-30 years ago. Barbecues, neighborhood parties, yes, kids birthday parties/fuctions, no. At least to me. and my memory.
I mean, we all are an example to ones around us, and what we see in the mirror every day, is the first person we can change.
We'll see how I do, once I can get over my wine, I'll try to get over my whining,
which may ( will ) be harder to do.
Let me know your thoughts, take good care,
Gina

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans. 14:23

Now we who are strong ought to be patient with the weaknesses of those who are not strong and must stop pleasing ourselves. Romans 15:1

6 comments:

  1. You are very brave to put your feelings out there and very wise to find a pretty water glass to substitute at dinner time. Whining on the other hand is perfectly acceptable, in moderation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Gina ~ We enjoy wine with dinner. We occasionally have a beer, we also occasionally have a margarita or some other drink.

    Drinking or not drinking wine is an individual thing. It is not a sin. If someone does have a problem with alcoholism that's a different story.

    You said "Let me know your thoughts", here are some scripture vs. from the KJ Version of the Bible. This is some of what I believe. My hope is in Jesus, who is God the Creator of the Universe, the Saviour of all. He died and rose again so that we would be FREE. We will be drinking wine with Him in eternity.

    *****************

    Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
    He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
    And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
    Psa 104:1, 14&15

    Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 1Ti 5:23

    Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
    This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
    But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
    And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
    Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Matthew 15:7-11

    Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
    But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
    For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
    These are the things which defile a man:
    Matthew 15:17-20

    Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. Rom 14:22

    Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
    Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Ecc 7:16-17

    Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
    And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:5-7

    Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
    1Corinthians 10:31

    Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; Ecc 9:7

    Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are on a new path, and I look forward to hearing more about your journey. Feel free to whine, ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gina, a very thought provoking post, and indeed, one doesn't have to be a lush to be an alcoholic. Who would be the alcoholic, the young lad who get's drunk with his mates every week, or the little old lady who for years just simply can't sleep unless she has that glass of sherry at 9pm? I think most of us can draw something from this post, I certainly have, and thanks for talking so frankly about your own experience. As for your favourite glass...it is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We used to be strictly vegetarian and drank no alcohol whatsoever for 12 years, while our children were growing up. We now eat meat and enjoy a glass of wine (white in summer and red in winter) with our meal. I don't have to have it and won't if I don't feel like it, but I do enjoy drinking from a pretty glass, just as tea tastes best from a pretty cup.

    You could switch to red or white grape juice, especially since your preference was sweeter wine and add an ice block or two and still enjoy using your pretty wine glasses. Recently, we had a delightful drink made by blending chunks of watermelon, with cranberry juice, a few springs of fresh mint and ice cubes. It was served in large wine goblets and looked and tasted wonderful!

    Good luck with your decision, Gina. My doctor actually advocates having a small glass of red wine as being healthy ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've given up for lent...so we'll see what happens at the end of the 40 days!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments , please leave one if you like. I try to respond to comments,but if I'm running behind, please know that I read each one before they are published. Thanks much, Gina