Care for a Drink?
Why do I not know how I became the person I am? Ok, yea this is what I want to talk about. I don't drink (not really, but effectively). I'm now thinking about how I became this way. What made me into this person I am today?
So the first thing to look at was my parents and their attitudes toward drinking. My parents were normal people in university and beyond, and as such, have had their fair share of drinks. They don't speak negatively of drinking. They even encouraged me as a university freshman to try drinking and see what it's like. So no negative influence there, if anything, they pushed me towards drinking, at least trying it. So it being learned from my parents goes out the window. What's next?
Do I have any person I look to and see that drinking was a problem for them, and as such, seek to avoid it? Not really. My parents are not drunks, no one in my family really drinks... my aunt used to, but I never knew growing up, so I was long past influencing by the time I learned. Ok, so no negative role model to turn me away from drinking.
Is there anywhere I would have picked up the sentiment that drinking was bad? I guess school? Obviously drinking is bad for you, and underage drinking is illegal. OK, I honestly think that's all there is to it. I'm such an autist that I can't bear the thought of breaking the law to any serious degree, and drinking was illegal as a kid. So I just convinced myself it was no good, and that it was not for me. But here's the thing, now that I'm older, why do I still feel such an aversion to alcohol? I guess because I have never had a time where I felt the consumption of alcohol has improved my experience.
How many times have I actually drank, to the point of effect? Once on my birthday. That was slight. How did I feel? Dizzy. That time was going quickly. That my head was slower than my brain. I didn't feel any worse than I would have had I been sober, but I don't feel as if it enhanced my night in any way. Next was probably spring break. So I overdid it. Drank too much, and spent the night crying and puking and felt like death the next two days. Ok, so that's not helping the case. Next was at [redacted]'s party last summer. Had some drinks for some reason, and felt real dizzy. Nothing unbearable, but strictly less than optimal. Is that it? I think so. So three times I've ever had enough to drink for me to notice. And all three times it either did nothing for me or ruined my time.
So now I'm just left with the analytical mind that I have telling me that I'm 0/3 and that there's no reason to drink other than for taste. Gin and Tonic tastes good. There is no version to be made without gin, so I use gin for the taste and smell, not the alcohol content. Champagne isn't so bad, so I'll have some. But I'm not gonna drink a bottle of it, it's not that good anyways. Beer is usually no good. Can go nicely with some meals, so I'm not too terribly opposed to getting a beer and some bratwurst. But I'm not ordering another round (or three). It's a beverage, nothing more, nothing less.
Analysis Complete.
Yours Truly,
[Redacted]