Happy New Years

Hey all, I hope you had a merry Christmas and that you have had a great new years.

It has been an interesting new years for me this year. I have been down in Wanaka for the last couple of days. We have spent the time jetboating, ski-biscuiting and playing cards.

I have seen a different side of life this weekend, a life I do not want a part of. My sister was also down in Wanaka, I got a phone call from her asking for a ride into the bars. I picked her and some of her mates up and took them into town, they were moderately drunk at the time, I then went back to my friends and the rest of the evening passed without problem. I was woken at about 1.30am by my phone, my sister had been trying to get ahold of me, I checked the voicemail and there was a message from her asking me to give her a ride home. She was slurring her words and sounded desperate for a ride. I rung back but got no reply. I then spent the next 2 hours laying there worrying about her.

While laying there thinking I realized that it was alcohol that was behind all of this. I made a promise to God that I won't drink anymore. Why drink yourself to a point where you cannot stand or even talk properly? I struggle to understand this. Is it because they cannot have fun unless they are drunk? or because by drinking they forget the things that weigh them down?

Looking back at my own experience I can attest that the times when I have drunk the most has been when there has been things that I have wanted to forget.

What are your thoughts on alcohol? Is it something to be completely avoided? something that is good in moderation? or is the essential element to a good time?