humanity
Alcohol is nothing without someone to drink it and the substance changes lives for many who partake; a glimpse into the impact of alcohol on humanity.
Warm Embrace
I never believed I would fall in love, or desire the presence of another, but I stand corrected. I wasn’t one to dance but that night we danced the night away, laughing and smiling. I didn’t like crowds, or socializing. But then you appeared. I was shy at first, reserved and anxious, but then suddenly you took my hand and pulled me close, a warm embrace that sent a wave of warmth through me. Almost like I had melted against you. I relaxed as I put one foot in front of the other, following you deeper and deeper into the night. Moving slowly then faster and faster to the rhythm of the music, as I slipped deeper and deeper into your arms. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach, my heart fluttered along with it. When your lips touched mine, I couldn’t help but shudder at the sweet bitterness. I felt like I couldn’t taste anything better than you. I began to crave more. My feet couldn’t keep up with yours, as we danced more and more. Our lips embracing each other at every moment. I could hear the voices around me, the laughter and shouts, blurring into one loud resounding buzz. Time seemed to move slowly with you, as minutes had passed when they felt like hours. The beat of the music pulsed through my body as my laughter grew louder. My smile so big it hurt my cheeks and my sides ached. The lights swirling and creating a kaleidoscope of beauty. You had swept me off my feet into what felt like Neverland, to a world I never wanted to leave, to a dimension my mind could not fathom. I wanted this every night, every day through and through. That warm embrace did it all. It was intoxicating to my senses. As my mind faded into the night and I lost myself. Even when the party had to end, you stayed, holding me close as the music faded into nothing. Invading my head with your alluring voice. Warm, soothing, assuring me it’ll be okay.
Colorful ChaoticPublished 4 years ago in Proof
When You Can't Save Them from Themselves
If you or anyone close to you are dealing with an alcoholic then you most likely know what it means to hear "you can save them." No truer four words have ever been spoken.
Susana ShadowsPublished 4 years ago in Proof
Drinking and Depressing
I think that for the most part I have a pretty healthy relationship with alcohol. I grew up in a home where drinking meant a beer or two or a glass of wine here and there. My parents gave me small sips to try, and I couldn't stand the stuff.
Ashley L. PetersonPublished 5 years ago in Proof
How Long Will My DUI Conviction Affect My Life?
The number of people who insist on driving after drinking is on the rise across the United States. Many drivers believe that they can get away with getting behind the wheel after a beer or two. However, driving under the influence comes with huge repercussions, perhaps larger than you can even fathom.
Amanda LinPublished 5 years ago in Proof
What I Learned When I Started Drinking Less Alcohol Last Year
To start this off, I should let readers know that I don't really have anything against drinking alcohol and I have never had issues with substance abuse. I understand that there are many individuals out there that suffer from substance abuse, and this surely is not an article to comment on their experiences.
Brian AnonymousPublished 5 years ago in Proof
God Bless America! Pizza and Beer Delivered to Your Door!
Some may mark this day early in the new year as the day that American society hit the tipping point to begin a long downward slog. They will see this day and the announcement that was made on it as just more evidence that we, as Americans, will just become fatter, lazier, and stupider in the years to come, glued to our screens and never needing to get up out of our easy chairs to do much of anything.
David WyldPublished 5 years ago in Proof
15 Steps to Get You Through Your Very First SOBER Christmas
Drink non-alcoholic drinks like an addict—also known as "Sugar Crushing". Juice, soda, more juice. Avoid most parties. Get comfortable with feeling lonely and weird at home in your sweatpants. Force yourself to go to a party, because you’re starting to feel sorry for yourself. Resist the urge to talk about your sweatpants and your cat. Pull your "awkward happy face" when people look at you and ask you why you are so quiet. Resist the urge to whisper "fuck you" quietly to yourself when they walk away. If you must, whisper it quietly. If needed, practice saying “EVERYTHING IS AWESOME” in the upstairs bathroom. At family events, take MANY breaks in the kitchen pantry, and practice deep breathing to soothe the cutting remarks & comments from family members about your career choice and lack of children. Resist the urge to steal and consume the shared box of red wine set up in the family dining room. If needed, take a long, deep sniff of your sister-in-laws glass of chardonnay. Carb load like crazy. Breads, cookies, more breads. Drink coffee until as late as 11 PM. Enjoy the sweet relief of having something you are addicted to flowing through your system. Lie. Answer "cider" when everyone asks “WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING?” It is non-alcoholic apple cider, with soda water, and ice cubes in a wine glass. Not lying, it’s cider. Quiet the voice that is screaming at you that you are torturing yourself by doing laps around your parent's house. Never stop walking in and out of rooms. Get used to being bored. Like REALLY bored. When relatives start to slur their words and ask you inappropriate questions, go to the play room and strike up a conversation with your five year old nephew about "butts." Realize and accept that 95 percent of the holiday "magic" you used to feel in past holidays came from the drinks you put to your lips. Accept the fact that the magical-bubbly-sparkly feeling that had been there every Christmas was primarily from a bottle. The magic that made the snow prettier, made the people more charming, made the financial worries more palpable, and made Christmas Eve mass go by faster. Let yourself feel sad about this. Start planning today how you will "get through" and make the next Christmas season more fun and rewarding for yourself. Now that you've made it through your first sober holiday season, the worst is over! It will be much easier next year.
Elizabeth WebbPublished 5 years ago in Proof
A Drunk Mind Doesn't Speak a Sober Heart
I hate the phrase "a drunk mind speaks a sober heart." It's not true. When I am drunk, I have a completely different agenda than when I am sober. I can list about 800 things that I would never in a million years do when I'm sober, but I have done those things when I'm drinking. To make it short, most of us have done stuff when we are drunk that we regret the next morning; eating at that taco place that always makes you sick, calling an ex, hooking up with someone, or even fighting with a friend. It's happened to a good portion of us. The next morning, it's not a good feeling and not just because of the massive hangover. Putting the pieces together after a black out is always a nightmare, too. It's almost worse than remembering what drunk you did.
Michelle SchultzPublished 5 years ago in Proof- Top Story - October 2018
Drunk Moms Aren't Cute
Oh how pop culture likes to glamorize moms who drink. It's all so fun and silly, right? And heck, moms work super hard! We deserve a little drink right? Yeah!!! Even Hoda and Kathy Lee have a healthy glass of wine on their desk every MORNING on their show. So see, it's okay to get started early!
C.Ing IsBelievingPublished 5 years ago in Proof 
How Do You Remember
How do I remember the first time I got drunk? As a Christian boy who was raised going to church, I was taught that drinking was evil. 15 was the first time I ever saw my parents drink; they worked in the church. When I saw that, I thought for sure they were going to Hell. Looking back at my upbringing, I realize my parents didn’t have anything against drinking; they simply just didn’t do it. The years of inadvertently being taught, not by my parents, but by the church that it was a sin to drink, really affected my perspective on alcohol as I turned 21. The church made me scared to drink and it didn’t help that I had a friend die because he was driving drunk.
Hunter AdkinsPublished 5 years ago in Proof
An Unusually Inspiring Story of How to Become a Brewmaster
There's a craft brewery not far from where I live. It's a pretty good one too. They've even won prestigious awards for a few of their brews. I'm gonna leave the brewery unnamed for now because, well, this isn't really "my" story to tell and I don't even know the guy personally. But I will say, it's a central Florida place and I could go on and on and on forever about how much I like their beer.
Sobriety Is Not Amnesty
When the Victim of Drunk Driving Is a Recovering Alcoholic One moment you’re proud of yourself for attending yet another Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The next, you are being thrown around like a rag doll inside the vehicle sobriety gifted you. Being sober does not absolve us from being victims of drunk driving. I am proof of that.
Eric HunterPublished 5 years ago in Proof
