This is a message for the grown-ups: We have to grow up and behave like mature adults. Some folks are far too comfortable with the adult version of doing exactly what the kids do and that is going out on a regular basis and getting loaded. Because we have cars, insurance, jobs and families and meet our day-to-day responsibilities it remains hidden even to ourselves, but a favorite pastime is to meet with friends, have dinner, catch a movie and/or drink. We drink at a Friday night dinner, have a few glasses of wine during the week, maybe have drinks while at the neighbor’s backyard barbeque or at a friend’s birthday gathering and it often becomes excessive. It looks harmless because we don’t do it with kegs and bands and police breaking it up, but it is essentially the same things we warn, request, demand our kids don’t do but they do anyway. I’m not talking about the person who has two to three drinks at a gathering one to two times a week. I’m referring to the adults who weekly or even monthly get drunk. Getting drunk, even infrequently, is alcohol abuse and it’s time to put it in the past. “When I was a child, I spoke like a child and thought like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.” I know it’s hard to be a grown up and let go of vices and our youthful good times, but we need to find interests and entertainments that are age appropriate. We can still have fun; we don’t have to live like seniors, but we do need to be mature.
We are family people and must put away childish things and set the example of healthy, mature living if we want any hope our kids will do the same. The bad news is we must give up the partying and drinking. But as adults we do get compensated. We make better money, do things we didn’t get to do when we were young, we’re smarter and more capable and can feel better than we ever could when we were young. We need to see the benefits of maturity and let go of childish ways. If you want to learn more about whether your habits are in the normal range or want to learn how to “party” in moderation or even control an out of control habit, please call.
Scott Spackey is a state Registered Addiction Specialist, Counselor, Interventionist, Life-Coach, Hypnotherapist and Bio-Feedback Technician. For more information, please call 661-299-1966, email: Scott@Life-Mind.com and visit online at www.LIFE-MIND.com.