New stories

# Chapter 70

There are so many wonderful people here in Vermont where I am working this week. They ask the most difficult questions. They need answers. They need clarity. They need to see the big picture. They need to understand how they can join in, and help change the world. They need to hear this from me.

Because this is a cold and ferocious place weather-wise, being this far north, they take their alcoholic beverages very serious up here near the Canadian border. I find myself dodging their invitations to join in regularly. But since questions, clarity, big picture understanding, and recruitment do not play nicely with the fatigue, flirtations and fog of imbibing alcohol, I am ignoring their invitations. I am continuing with my 113 days of not drinking, though you never know, it could end tomorrow and then start up again the following day.

This clarity comes at a price, but its not as high as I thought, and its benefits are better than I imagined. Nor am I constrained by my AFD (alcohol free days) run that I am currently on . . . I just restarted the run after any day I find that drinking with someone is more important than not drinking with someone. That day will eventually come and it is ok. It feels like the fact that no one is forcing me to do this, makes it easier to do. There is nothing to resist, except the stories that I have always told myself about . . . well myself. Its time I can see, to start telling myself some new stories, and that is what you have been reading these past weeks.