How do you let your hair down?

[rosie]

It occured to me that alcohol is a huge factor in all the ways I could think of in letting my hair down... I mean being a bit daft, a little bit wild not just relaxing...

Any non-alcoholic ideas?

[_paulmh_]

Dance.

[functional drunk]

You might come to see this a little differently in time. I certainly did. What looked like 'letting my hair down' was actually something else. I find now that I have a great time, pretty much all of the time (even when things are quiet and it does not look like much is happening - they can now be some of the best times) without any need to escape myself or get out of it.

FD :)

[bigsister987]

I like watching kids having fun. At some point in our lives we went from having fun without drinking alcohol, to not having fun unless we were drinking. Somehow we have to try and get back to that state of mind. I agree with dancing. Sober sex anyone?:p

[cejay]

EDIT: I'm really glad you started this thread. I'm looking for more suggestions too.

I still like getting together with friends, I just pick different (N/A) settings. (Coffee shop, breakfast or lunch at a restaurant)
Most of my (real) friends don't mind or even want a bar venue anyway as they don't have the same thirst I do.

I find now its much better and more relaxing than before because we talk animatedly and laugh hard from the belly. Funny how that disappears when drinking or when in between drinking.

Oddly though I feel most relaxed after a good solid workout.

CJ

[Mai]

I love going to the Improv theatre. Super funny. Laugh so hard it hurts! And those are some crazy people! They even do classes there...maybe I will sign up some day. :D

[Sam]

I act stupid and silly around the kids. I fall down, talk like Elmer Fudd, basically anything I can do to embarress them. Then they get silly and we all laugh until it hurts. Kids love you for it and it gives me a smile I can think back on for some time.

[Culli]

I've been making lists of all the things I HAVEN'T given up - some of the more fun ones (for me)

Music
knitting (not for everyone ;-)
canoing
fishing
hiking
iceskating (love that one - so sparkly this time of year!)
movies
amusement park (seriously - no drinking there and watch the teens having fun)
cards (I know this is a big drinking trigger for most of us, but I really believe I will learn to play better cards and enjoy the game more - haven't actually TRIED this one, yet...but I plan to)
Playing with dogs (uh, I actually prefer them to kids)
joining or observing some sporting event...maybe join a 5K walk or just go cheer the marathoners on...

I will think of more and be back to see what everyone else says, too.

Great thread.

K.:D

[DtheM]

Letting down what's left of my hair almost always led to incoherent babbling and trying to stumble home...so I realized alcohol was killing me rather than be part of a fun time. So I knew I wasn't giving up anything but trouble, and it has been great since I quit. Tennis and bike riding again and other geeky hobbies such as astronomy and shortwave radio:D

[roxygrl]

Nice cup of tea, play jenga, intense workout, walking dogs, talking with friends, showing off to my friends I can still do a back bend and a cartwheel, running, cooking for someone, trying a new restaurant, bowling, and tennis.

[T-Bone]

I think I know what you mean by "letting your hair down". Its not taking a stroll on the beach or sipping some herbal tea.

We're talking about adrenaline surge!

Try skydiving. It'll blow your mind. I like hiking in the middle of the night in pitch black woods. Creepy, and what a rush. Snow mobile and ATV riding. Shooting guns is one of my favorite ways to let my hair down. That poor pumpkin didn't know what hit him.

There are lots of activities that will give you that natural high you are seeking.

[sharksandwich]

Hair?

[alabama]

My game plan for this is going to be - just because I have become a non-drinker, doesn't mean that I have to stop being silly... and deliciously irresponsible within reason ;) For instance, some days, I am going to give myself permission to have a 'hangover day' only this time, I won't have a hangover. Stay in my pyjamas all day, watch awful films, be completely lazy.
And I agree with what BigSister says earlier in this thread: rediscover the sense of adventure and play that a child has... laugh at stupid stuff and muck around. Not drinking doesn't have to mean no slightly unhinged, unbridled fun!
:cool:

[rosie]

Well when I started this thread I was really early into my quit - day 8 I think. I was terrified of never having fun again. All I could see was this life stretching ahead with empty nights turning into an old woman way before my time. Now I am coming up to 7 weeks and thought I'd review what everyone wrote and come to my own conclusions.

It is with much surprise that I find that I have fun in pretty much the same ways as I ever did - only this time alcohol is not involved. I have great times with friends, lots of laughter, do silly things. It IS just as good without it with the added bonus of no hangover, regrets, guilt.....

BUT I have also re-discovered my passions in life - things that I had forgotten. These can be little, like reading and actually remembering the plot to a good book, to bigger things like climbing mountains - something I am finally on the road to getting fit enough to do again.

These are all great things and mean so much more than the bottle. But I never would have believed it at the start. :D

PS, I both love and hate the idea of hiking in the woods in the dark T-Bone. :eek:

[bagpuss]

Hi Rosie :) I used to wonder 'HOW' I was going to socialise without the dreaded booze to liven things up! I too have been amazed at how great social occasions can be with drinking. I have neen to the theatre, out for dinner and the cinema and didn't miss alcohol at all :) I'm 9 weeks sober today and go out much more than I did when I was drinking. I was a solitary, stay at home drinker, which was lonely on one hand, but meant I didn't have to share my supply. Thank god thats over