sobriety who's doing it

[bushed]

Maintaining happiness as a busy adult.

Now when I say sobriety I don't mean weed, when used in moderation for me it's the perfect release at the end of the day from the stress of working/family responsibilities. We are an aged population here these days so I'm sure many people are in the same place as me.

To me having children means I need to be my best self, calm, happy and engaged not hung over with my head stuck in my phone. On top of all the responsibility that comes with being an adult.

​​​​​​To maintain a happy brain I have given up stimulants, I think this is common, my younger self had many happy times on mdma, for most people it's just not worth the days of sadness and emptyness you feel as you get older, the inability to just bounce back. I have also cut down alcohol for the same reason, I drink at most once a month with my buddy, my brain can handle this but I would cut it out all together if not for the social factor. I limit to 1 coffee a day, I feel caffeine is is a sometimes looked over contribution to feelings of stress. I smoke 1-2 joints in the evening once the work for the day is finished. Golden tiger grown out door to stimulate my mind and indoor northern lights to relax before bed. I occasionally have a burn first thing at the weekend before a surf but don't crave weed in the morning.

I do 20 minutes of vigorous exercise and 20 minutes breathing meditation every day, for me these things are essential.

I'm sure younger me would scoff and consider my routine rigid and boring. But who cares, being in charge of one's emotions and to feel in control and on top of life is priceless.

So what's everyone's thoughts on this? Do you practice strict routines or are you chasing a buzz? Would you like to live a cleaner lifestyle or are you happy where you are? I would really enjoy a discussion on something other than vaccines or US politics

 

[midwestkid]

I'm coming up on 3 years without alcohol. I do feel much more boring, but it's likely the best choice I've ever made.
I drink too much coffee and it does make me nervous damn it
I do some wim Hoff breathing exercises when my anxiety gets out of hand
I run and workout if my belly gets too big.
coming up on 40 next year and feel like I'm finally getting close to the best version of myself.
It's been a long road. Trauma from living piled up in my early 20s and here I am 20 years later with the fire almost put out.

 

[CosmicGiggle]

Maintaining happiness as a busy adult.

Now when I say sobriety I don't mean weed, when used in moderation for me it's the perfect release at the end of the day from the stress of working/family responsibilities. We are an aged population here these days so I'm sure many people are in the same place as me.

To me having children means I need to be my best self, calm, happy and engaged not hung over with my head stuck in my phone. On top of all the responsibility that comes with being an adult.

​​​​​​To maintain a happy brain I have given up stimulants, I think this is common, my younger self had many happy times on mdma, for most people it's just not worth the days of sadness and emptyness you feel as you get older, the inability to just bounce back. I have also cut down alcohol for the same reason, I drink at most once a month with my buddy, my brain can handle this but I would cut it out all together if not for the social factor. I limit to 1 coffee a day, I feel caffeine is is a sometimes looked over contribution to feelings of stress. I smoke 1-2 joints in the evening once the work for the day is finished. Golden tiger grown out door to stimulate my mind and indoor northern lights to relax before bed. I occasionally have a burn first thing at the weekend before a surf but don't crave weed in the morning.

I do 20 minutes of vigorous exercise and 20 minutes breathing meditation every day, for me these things are essential.

I'm sure younger me would scoff and consider my routine rigid and boring. But who cares, being in charge of one's emotions and to feel in control and on top of life is priceless.

So what's everyone's thoughts on this? Do you practice strict routines or are you chasing a buzz? Would you like to live a cleaner lifestyle or are you happy where you are? I would really enjoy a discussion on something other than vaccines or US politics

Good thread!!!

I've given up pot, at least until the current grow in finished in 6 weeks after which I will microdose 1 -2 hits in the evening.

Never drank alcohol so nothing to give up there.

1 cuppa caffeine and the rest decafe.

I've been able to do this easily by flooding my endocannabinoid system with Lactobacillus species for several months - no withdrawal symptoms like in the past, easy/peasy!

 

[armedoldhippy]

sobriety? to a degree, nothing taken to excess. i USED to close down bars etc when single, wife prob saved me there. i still have an occasional Jack if dining out. but other than that, i restrict myself to what little moonshine i make, and never more than one or two shots of that in an evening (or weekend). i prob could use cutting caffeine out. never was a coffee person, but if it tasted like the beans smell, i'd be right there! nothing smells like bacon frying and coffee pot going in the morning...since retiring, it seems that i'm smoking more than before. might ought to research that a bit...

 

[BudToaster]

i was going through a box of merlot a week for a number of years. got into single malt scotch for a little bit. just gave up all alcohol several years ago and don't miss it a bit. only drink well water now. very lo carb friendly.

 

[Gry]

Make no claim to sobriety - cancer resulted my making a lot changes.
Been amazed by the extent of change that we can adjust to when needed.
Think it may be the coffee that I miss the most.
As someone who quit stuff over medical issues,
I have to take my hat off to the friends of Bill
crew. Am left with a good deal of respect for
them.

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

Sobriety...Good God why?

minds_I

 

[CosmicGiggle]

Hello all,

Sobriety...Good God why?

minds_I

....... to see what's there when you rip the band aid off.

.......... self reliance, not being dependent on a substance to get through the day.

........................ the freedom that comes with not having something illegal to hide.

 

[minds_I]

....... to see what's there when you rip the band aid off.

.......... self reliance, not being dependent on a substance to get through the day.

........................ the freedom that comes with not having something illegal to hide.

Hello all,

Well, I already know what is under the band aid...hence the inebriation.


Then consider the intensity of the inebriation and still navigating the course of the day with out a hiccup?

At the moment, in CA, it is legal and I hide nothing.

That being said, I am sadly moving to Kentucky within the month where it is not.

I am going to be forced to grow indoors and thta displeases me.


Are you having a crisis of conscience?
minds_I

 

[CosmicGiggle]

........ Are you having a crisis of conscience?
minds_I

lol, no, it was spontaneous. I was spending $100/mo on CBD oil which works through the endocannabinoid system, nerve receptors located in the stomach and throughout the body, when I decided to try different probiotics that also latch onto these receptors, theorizing that this system existed long before CDB was discovered and used as medicine.

I gave up the CDB oil for financial reasons and flooded my body with different probiotics scientifically proven to have the same effects (though I don't have any physical pain issues to deal with).

......... after 3 mos. I found that they did give me the same feeling of well being as the CDB oil.

................. and after smoking massive amounts of pot for 50 yrs. I was growing tired of 'chasing the dragon', trying to duplicate the high found in the good stuff from the 1970's through late '90's, sadly no longer available after years of bastardization, something that had become just an addiction.

........................... then I had a dream where I came to a fork in the road and easily made the turn and I knew what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to make that change.

So the decision came from my body and filtered up to my mind and burst through to consciousness, conscience had nothing to do with it, it was the probiotics that decided that that's what they wanted me to do!

 

[Hempy McNoodle]

I've been smoking way too much (to the point where I think it's all I do). So, I have started cutting back this week and it is already doing me good. Next, I want to cut down the coffee. I am already pretty cut back on booz. And, my "experimenting" days are behind me.

 

[minds_I]

lol, no, it was spontaneous. I was spending $100/mo on CBD oil which works through the endocannabinoid system, nerve receptors located in the stomach and throughout the body, when I decided to try different probiotics that also latch onto these receptors, theorizing that this system existed long before CDB was discovered and used as medicine.

I gave up the CDB oil for financial reasons and flooded my body with different probiotics scientifically proven to have the same effects (though I don't have any physical pain issues to deal with).

......... after 3 mos. I found that they did give me the same feeling of well being as the CDB oil.

................. and after smoking massive amounts of pot for 50 yrs. I was growing tired of 'chasing the dragon', trying to duplicate the high found in the good stuff from the 1970's through late '90's, sadly no longer available after years of bastardization, something that had become just an addiction.

........................... then I had a dream where I came to a fork in the road and easily made the turn and I knew what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to make that change.

So the decision came from my body and filtered up to my mind and burst through to consciousness, conscience had nothing to do with it, it was the probiotics that decided that that's what they wanted me to do!

Hello all,

I can respect that....and in part, I can empathize....

And, as a personal observation, I have never found the high I had that very first time I smoked a joint (which I can remember with pin point details). Has not ever been the same since 76'.

Coincidentally, that first time with a girl was something that was never quite the same as that first time, ay?

minds_I

 

[bushed]

midwestkid 3 years no alcohol is impressive, I struggle with socialising without it, it's really ingrained that's what blokes do together. Luckily don't socialise to much.

Wim Hoff also got me interested in meditation then started reading about mindfulness and how ancient budest practices now have a lot of scientific blacking, with happiness being the goal.

Exercise is so important for happiness too. Working out hard builds endorphins and melotonin.

I'm happy you are feeling close to your best self.

 

[bushed]

CosmicGiggle very interested in what you was using the CDB oil to treat and what effect you got from the Lactobacillus? I'm interested in pro biotics but have never taken them, the amount our gut is linked to the brain is fascinating.

 

[bushed]

minds_I for me it's about r pesponsibility for my choice to have children. To be a consistent joyful person, not be short tempered or feelings to lazy or jaded because I went to hard last night.

But that's just me, if your brain can handle it, your happy with who you are, more power to you.

I am talking relative sobriety, I see weed as a positive all round, but prefer to leave until the end of the day otherwise I start to crave it in the morning.

 

[bushed]

armedoldhippy what's excess is always going to be changing, when you're 18 getting on it 5 nights a week didn't feel too excessive. Though I don't think a single drink with dinner would effect my mood, maybe I will give that a go.

Congratulations on your retirement, I think smoking a bit more is more than acceptable, do you have any plans for what you will do with your time?

 

[armedoldhippy]

armedoldhippy what's excess is always going to be changing, when you're 18 getting on it 5 nights a week didn't feel too excessive. Though I don't think a single drink with dinner would effect my mood, maybe I will give that a go.

Congratulations on your retirement, I think smoking a bit more is more than acceptable, do you have any plans for what you will do with your time?

more hunting and fishing to start...got a years worth of work around the house if i didn't GO hunting or fishing, lol. smoking more pot since i don't need to be concerned about pissing in a cup.. if i go batshit crazy, i may buy a good used TIG welding machine and do work on the side. i love stainless & aluminum...gonna grow some this coming year even if it hairlips the pope...

 

[Switcher56]

lol, no, it was spontaneous. I was spending $100/mo on CBD oil which works through the endocannabinoid system, nerve receptors located in the stomach and throughout the body, when I decided to try different probiotics that also latch onto these receptors, theorizing that this system existed long before CDB was discovered and used as medicine.

I gave up the CDB oil for financial reasons and flooded my body with different probiotics scientifically proven to have the same effects (though I don't have any physical pain issues to deal with).

......... after 3 mos. I found that they did give me the same feeling of well being as the CDB oil.

................. and after smoking massive amounts of pot for 50 yrs. I was growing tired of 'chasing the dragon', trying to duplicate the high found in the good stuff from the 1970's through late '90's, sadly no longer available after years of bastardization, something that had become just an addiction.

........................... then I had a dream where I came to a fork in the road and easily made the turn and I knew what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to make that change.

So the decision came from my body and filtered up to my mind and burst through to consciousness, conscience had nothing to do with it, it was the probiotics that decided that that's what they wanted me to do!

That there! The latter isn't just pot related. @ 65 I am feeling the effects of excess on my body. I find alcohol simply makes me angry these days. It has for some time and magnified with Covid and the current world overall attitude.

 

[HempKat]

I'm at right around 4 years of completely sober but most of that is circumstantial then by choice. I gave up drinking decades ago. I used to be one of the guys parked by the keg at keg parties but one early summer day I came home hot and tired to an apartment where the AC didn't get turned on for another couple of weeks. So I opened all the widows and drank two Budweisers that were in the fridge and went to bed early. Now two Buds were never enough to even get me buzzed but the next day I woke up with a terrible hangover and decided that if I was going to end up being hungover without getting at least a little buzzed it was time to quit. I've had an occasional champagne here and there at weddings but for the most part I gave up alcohol and never looked back. I was never a coffee drinker but I do drink lots of Mountain Dew which is high in caffeine but really I feel more agitated when I try to do without my Mountain Dew then I do with it. Pot has been ever present from age 11 until 4 years ago but I have found myself smoking less and less when I do smoke it over the past decade or so. Mainly cause it just feels like a waste to keep smoking it when a couple of hits or half a joint get me to where I want to be. Other more exotic drugs I've given up a couple of decades ago but more because I just don't have access and can't afford it. The last four years is because my income is limited to the point that I can't afford to grow like I used to but I'm hoping to be able to change that soon and if I do I think I would settle into a joint or a couple of hits of resin per day and be satisfied. I never had kids so I never had the things that come with that and my wife passed away a little over a year ago so I mostly live a lonely boring life without too much stress other then the nonsense in the news but that's easy enough to regulate.

 

[member 505892]

Maintaining happiness as a busy adult.

Now when I say sobriety I don't mean weed, when used in moderation for me it's the perfect release at the end of the day from the stress of working/family responsibilities. We are an aged population here these days so I'm sure many people are in the same place as me.

To me having children means I need to be my best self, calm, happy and engaged not hung over with my head stuck in my phone. On top of all the responsibility that comes with being an adult.

​​​​​​To maintain a happy brain I have given up stimulants, I think this is common, my younger self had many happy times on mdma, for most people it's just not worth the days of sadness and emptyness you feel as you get older, the inability to just bounce back. I have also cut down alcohol for the same reason, I drink at most once a month with my buddy, my brain can handle this but I would cut it out all together if not for the social factor. I limit to 1 coffee a day, I feel caffeine is is a sometimes looked over contribution to feelings of stress. I smoke 1-2 joints in the evening once the work for the day is finished. Golden tiger grown out door to stimulate my mind and indoor northern lights to relax before bed. I occasionally have a burn first thing at the weekend before a surf but don't crave weed in the morning.

I do 20 minutes of vigorous exercise and 20 minutes breathing meditation every day, for me these things are essential.

I'm sure younger me would scoff and consider my routine rigid and boring. But who cares, being in charge of one's emotions and to feel in control and on top of life is priceless.

So what's everyone's thoughts on this? Do you practice strict routines or are you chasing a buzz? Would you like to live a cleaner lifestyle or are you happy where you are? I would really enjoy a discussion on something other than vaccines or US politics

I'm at somewhat of a tipping point myself.... i have kind of felt like this for 5 to 10 years if i'm being honest, and while i have made SOME changes i need to make a lot more....

I don't want to share too many personal details, but, where i used to feel like "it would really be a good idea to get healthier if i want to live a long fulfilling life", i'm now at the point of "if i don't make some MAJOR changes, even if they're gradual, i'm NOT going to live happily into old age".... even if i get lucky with cancer etc.

I don't smoke cigarettes (never did) or drink alcohol (used to binge often), but i still have a real weakness for food.... i have made some good changes over the last 10 years though, like,

- only buying skim milk for cereal etc. and 99.9% fat free milk for coffee/ tea, smoothies etc.
- no margarine ever, rarely buy or use butter
- rarely buy fried food or take away greasyness
- switched from bread to wraps
- don't keep refined sugar unless i buy it for something specific
- always use an air fryer with no oil, even for weird things

It almost makes me feel healthy reading what i've just written, but alas, it's not reality.... easy to prepare meals, cereal and sweets are hard for me to move past.

They are my comfort foods, i don't think i can ever be strict enough to remove them completely, but avoiding stress is a huge factor, if i can do that better i won't have the need for 'comfort' foods quite so often.... along with more exercise, i'm relatively hopeful.

Good luck on your journey.