What exactly is the gray in gray area drinking? It’s that place between obviously bad, and not that bad, that keeps us hanging on to a slow, spiraling addiction. But now that they are saying this ‘No safe amount’: All alcohol consumption ‘harmful to the brain’ any amount of alcohol would seem to be a bad idea. I don’t think it really matters how many headlines are thrown around proclaiming that any amount of alcohol is bad for you. People will still drink, holding onto hope that they aren’t – that bad.

I was in that gray area nobody likes talking about, but I took comfort knowing I was not that bad. I didn’t have the classic hallmarks of an alcoholic. I didn’t drink in the morning.  I didn’t neglect my children.  I had dinner on the table every night. Bills paid, commitments honored.  I didn’t drink and drive. I was a good little gray area drinker.  Sure I slurred my words now and then. And maybe fell down a few times.  There was that one little, awkward concussion. With stitches. Life in the gray area wasn’t all bad. But it sure wasn’t good.

Gray area drinking leads to a gray area life, and gray is not my color.  At age 62 my hair is gray, and I can’t dye it fast enough.  It’s not a beautiful silver some women are blessed with.  It’s that god-awful gray that’s god-awful drab. Mousy. Boring. The absence of color. Gray area drinking robbed my life of color.  And that absence of color made me want to drink more.  Crazy right? The gray veil of drinking was a creepy, constant thirst for something I could not quench. And it was blocking my joy, my passion, my spirit.  Like a dirty window, gray area drinking was preventing light from coming in.  I was not fully alive.  But I wasn’t that bad.

Maybe you’ll decide you no longer want a gray, good-enough existence — living a mediocre life, slave to the false thrill of numbing your precious brain. Maybe you want to embrace a life of presence, authenticity and brilliant color?   I am staying alcohol free today.  Because I want ruby red slippers and chartreuse pants that glow in the dark.  I want to wrap myself in a big, fluffy fuchsia coat.  I want to see, feel and BE color in this dark, dreary world.  Today I’m alcohol free, because I choose color … and I choose fabulous!  Will you join me?

If you’re “sober curious” … If you are drinking too much too often and want to stop or take a break… Talk to Us. 

We are an independent, anonymous and private community who share resources, support and talk it through every day. It helps to have a community behind you in a world where alcohol is the only addictive drug that people will question you for NOT using

You can read more about us Here And join  Here

community support 24-7 or sign up and sign in here

Don’t let the shame of the stigma keep you from saying

More reading :

How I Escaped the Trap of Gray Area Drinking

Are You Maybe Sober Curious? An Invitation to Imagine The Life that Sobriety Cultivates