Don't Drink, Don't Smoke...

[viscousmemories]

...what do ya do?

It occurs to me that I have gradually adopted a very healthy, positive lifestyle. I don't drink or do drugs, I work out regularly, I ride my bike on the weekends, I try to eat healthily, I have a full-time job with good benefits and a savings account, I donate to charity, I'm "going back to school" (by way of taking classes online) and for the most part I try to keep abreast of what's going on in local and national politics.

In other words, my lifestyle at 39 is pretty much the complete opposite of what it was at 25. I used to smoke at least 2 packs a day, drink to excess as often as possible, never exercise, eat unhealthily, avoid school and work like the plague and keep my head buried as deep in the sand as possible when it came to politics. Moreover, I did it all proudly. I was my own man, see? As much as I could, I did what made me feel good and nothing more.

It's funny because my co-workers probably think I'm some kind of monk because I don't drink at happy hours or come in hung over, etc. - most of them oblivious to how I used to be. It's also funny because I'm oddly much more content and at peace with my life now, even though I'm not just chasing what feels good for the moment all the time. Unfortunately my social life isn't great, but I'm really too busy anyway.

Wow, there doesn't seem to be any point to this thread at all.

[Clutch Munny]

I know exactly what you're saying, vm. It's funny how wisdom kinda sneaks up on you!

I remember working construction in my early 20s, and living a bit on the hard side -- smoking, drinking, lots of late nights, lots of showing up for work hung over. But I also remember being pretty weirded out by the 50-somethings and even 60-somethings who were working the same job, and were still doing exactly what I was doing. No money, no goals, nothing to show for all their hard work, no awareness of self or world -- just older.

Clearly it's possible to just get older, without getting any wiser or happier. So, yeah, you should be very pleased at how you've worked your way into a happy, stable, morally decent life. (Naturally I except your being evil, an internet bully, and an admin-decepticon from this assessment.)

[freemonkey]

I get it too, vm. I did some incredibly stupid shit in my younger years. Sometimes, I'm amazed I'm not dead.

But I also remember being pretty weirded out by the 50-somethings and even 60-somethings who were working the same job, and were still doing exactly what I was doing. No money, no goals, nothing to show for all their hard work, no awareness of self or world -- just older.

:sadnod: Something I'll always remember: One evening I spent a couple hours in a neighborhood tavern, there was blonde woman sitting at the bar. I don't know how old she was, but must have been at least well into her 40's. She must have been there for hours already, and the whole time she held a lit cigarette in her hand, and leaned her head on the same hand. All over her head were burn marks where her cig touched her hair. Maybe all those burn marks happened that night, or maybe it was a wig and they'd been accumulated over time and she just did not care, I don't know.

At the time, I thought it was both funny and sad, and it did not cause me to change my behavior, but it did have a delayed effect on me, I remember it often when I think how easily we can lose ourselves.

[Shelli]

Don't Drink, Don't Smoke...

...what do ya do?Yeah, lots of people say, "omg.. really? What's left then?" :gasp:

Lots and lots of which weren't possible while living the drinking/smoking/etc lifestyle. I too have developed a healthy attitude and lifestyle which has showed in all aspects of my life and has reaped many benefits. :=)

[Stormlight]

Clearly it's possible to just get older, without getting any wiser or happier.

:glare:

[ShottleBop]

Clearly it's possible to just get older, without getting any wiser or happier.

:glare:

With that avatar, the :glare: is kinda redundant.

[godfry n. glad]

Interesting...

I've always been kind of a moderate guy....lifestylewise, that is.

I'm in shittier shape and worse health than I ever have been in my life. My lifestyle is still fairly moderate, but slower, but I'm content.

Having found contentment, I'm reluctant to "move on".

[Stephen Maturin]

It's funny how wisdom kinda sneaks up on you!

Sometimes it sneaks up on you; sometimes it's forcibly pounded up your ass.

- Stephen Maturin, booze-free since 12/29/83, smoke-free since heart attack on 5/28/08

[Qingdai]

Yikes. I am sorry to hear that your heart is attacking you SM. Or rather has attacked you.

I get a thrill out of a single beer now, then pay with it by increased itchy, burning rosacea. Whee.

[Doctor X]

Wow, there doesn't seem to be any point to this thread at all.

It is clear you intend to use it to bully mickthinks. . . .

--J.D.

[oblomov]

- Stephen Maturin, booze-free since 12/29/83, smoke-free since heart attack on 5/28/08

jeepers! well, i hope you're doing all right

[Doctor X]

Indeed!

--J.D.

P.S. But if not can I have your stereo?

[Stephen Maturin]

jeepers! well, i hope you're doing all right

Thanks, oblomov. It wasn't so much the heart attack that kicked my ass as the quintuple coronary artery bypass surgery that took place a couple of days later, but recovery is proceeding nicely thus far.

[Ensign Steve]

Good to "see" you, Mr. Maturin. :hug:

[Shelli]

:hug: for Stephen

[Garnet]

Wow, Stephen, what an ordeal! I'm glad that you are recovering.

[viscousmemories]

Wow, I had no idea. Very glad you made it through Mr. Maturin.

[Uthgar the Brazen]

:yeahthat:

:manhug:

[Stephen Maturin]

Wow, I had no idea. Very glad you made it through Mr. Maturin.

Thanks, vm, and please accept my congratulations over the fact that your lifestyle at 39 is pretty much the complete opposite of what it was at 25.

[Petra]

:eek:

I hope you are feeling much, much better, Sir! That must've been very scary.

But if it's any consolation, my uncle is now into his 78th year, and had his first bypass op when he was in his mid 40's. He's had 3 or 4 (multiple) bypass ops since then, and is doing very well. He cycles, sails, treks in the mountains (what with living in Bavaria an' all) and still goes globe trotting. So there is much hope that you will live a long and happy life.

May your recovery be swift and complete. :kiss:

[Stormlight]

Good to see you made it through. I had no idea.

[Pinecone]

You heart breaker you!

don't do it no more!

[Clutch Munny]

Wow, I had no idea. Very glad you made it through Mr. Maturin.

Thanks, vm, and please accept my congratulations over the fact that your lifestyle at 39 is pretty much the complete opposite of what it was at 25.

Yeah, yeah. Nice afterthought. Way to take vm's "I gradually gots smrtr!" thread and make it all "Ooh, look at me, I almost died, they cut me in half and replaced most of my heart, it's a miracle I'm still alive!"

If you were any more of a derailer, I'd call you Shimano.

[Stormlight]

:rofl:

[Sock Puppet]

I for one applaud Mr. Maturin's successful derailing of vm's Goody Two Shoes, Mr. I-Don't-Need-Booze-To-Enjoy-Life, smug little fucking thread.


Bastard, screwing up the curve for the rest of us. :mutter:

[Uthgar the Brazen]

I don't need booze to enjoy life, but it sure...

Fuck that, yes I do.

[Watser?]

:yipes:

Good to still have you among the living SM :manhug:

[Brimshack]

...what do ya do?

It occurs to me that I have gradually adopted a very healthy, positive lifestyle. I don't drink or do drugs, I work out regularly, I ride my bike on the weekends, I try to eat healthily, I have a full-time job with good benefits and a savings account, I donate to charity, I'm "going back to school" (by way of taking classes online) and for the most part I try to keep abreast of what's going on in local and national politics.

Fucker!

[Smilin]

...what do ya do?

It occurs to me that I have gradually adopted a very healthy, positive lifestyle. I don't drink or do drugs, I work out regularly, I ride my bike on the weekends, I try to eat healthily, I have a full-time job with good benefits and a savings account, I donate to charity, I'm "going back to school" (by way of taking classes online) and for the most part I try to keep abreast of what's going on in local and national politics.


homo...:grumble:

:wink:

What do I do?....Lessee...drink like a fish, don't excercise...LURVE to eat....don't smoke though, have a tendency to twirl my hair, luv quiet rides in the countryside, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, skeet shooting ESPECIALLY anything to do with the outside and my two boys and my daughter. We're going white-water rafting in two week...(stand by for pics)

Recently seperated though nothing legal yet.....ladies (or hell even Uth) PM me for a romantic hookup!:D

[256 colors]

I am the same age as VM but the exact opposite in lifestyle, I tend to do things to excess (getting trashed instead of just pleasantly buzzed, eating until I'm stuffed instead of eating proper portions). I did however manage to quit smoking cigarettes, finally, after getting bronchitis on Thanksgiving 2003. I haven't had a cig since.

I'm considering surgery to help prevent me from overeating; I don't know how that will work out but I would love to be healthier.

[viscousmemories]

Congrats on kicking the smokes, ELGS. I never thought I would until I did.

An important aspect of all this that I neglected to mention is that I really don't feel self-righteous or superior about any of it. I still fully appreciate the contrary lifestyle, I'm just not into it anymore. Besides, I still overeat and eat too much chocolate, so I'm clearly not perfect.

[Garnet]

Congrats on kicking the smokes, ELGS. I never thought I would until I did.

An important aspect of all this that I neglected to mention is that I really don't feel self-righteous or superior about any of it. I still fully appreciate the contrary lifestyle, I'm just not into it anymore. Besides, I still overeat and eat too much chocolate, so I'm clearly not perfect.

MT and I quit smoking January 2007 and it was, and sometimes still is, hard. We went out for dinner last night and chose to sit at the bar. I so very much wanted to steal the cigarettes from the woman next to me and just start puffing away.

I've always despised former smokers/drinkers that lord it over others. I don't ever want to turn into one of those self righteous fuckers. I'm still grossly overweight and struggling with that too.

But, VM, it's a-ok as far as I'm concerned to celebrate the changes in your lifestyle. Change ain't easy and you've a right to crow a bit.

[Watser?]

I quit smoking over 9 years ago, it was pretty easy too. Other than that I still have all kinds of unhealthy and filthy habits.

I especially need to stop eating and reading funny stuff at the same time, that nearly killed me just now. Note to self: food does not go in the trachea!