Six years ago, I made a decision to quit alcohol. The first two years,I didn't take as little as a drop, after which I tried a few "bottles" where the situation required it. I had had an unexplainable health concern (in 2012) so suspected everything for its cause. I even stopped my workouts. I got to realize, with medical proof, that the cause of my illness at the time was unconnected to my indulgencesand activities. But, it doesn't mean that the cumulative effect of such indulgences cannot make one's health suffer.
Yesterday, a friend asked why I had so strongly declined an offer to have my favourite stout, and I gave him my reasons. You see, I've had people walk out of my life because in their judgment, I'm not exactly doing well; I'm of the same opinion. What happens if, and with where I am currently, my health goes bad? It means I won't findanyone around. I reminded him of a mutual friend who isn't in so much a great place mentally.
We care about him. We buy him food anytime we bump into him, and when we can. We give him that sense of belonging, but we haven't really done so much for him—the details aren't for here. While we're still friends with him, we aren't exactly friends with him; we don't roll together anymore.
Living life, I have come to understand that love and friendship is never enough. While people may like you genuinely, it isn't unconnected to how relevant you've made yourself. I have come to terms with the fact that people, even though deep down they like you, will always walk away as soon as your relevance drops; especially when you begin to become a burden to them. I like the people around me, so every day, I strive to better my life for myself and for them. In truth, no one can be a Robinson Crusoe.
Stories abound of boyfriends who saw their girlfriends through school (and the other way around) only to be jilted a little while after because levels changed. And no, I'm not trying to say this isn'ta good move, but while people help other people grow, they shouldn't forget to themselves grow. Progress is endless, and a little bit of self-disciplinehelps with it.
