Gratitude

The Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

Thank you to everyone who generously donated to Odyssey House and helped them give those affected by drug and alcohol abuse a fresh start in life.  Thank you to those who inspired me to take a year off alcohol especially John and my cousin Scotty.  Thank you to those who supported me during my year without alcohol, every message, comment, text, word of encouragement kept me going and I couldn't have done it without you.  A special thank you to those who challenged me and doubted me because you also helped propell me forward.    Thank you Chris Raine for creating a shift in the drinking culture and continuing to work hard to spread a positive message around the world.  It's not easy going against the grain and you're helping to pave the way for future generations.

I'm so grateful for my life, for my family and friends, for my struggles.  There was a time in my 20's when I was cynical and negative and now I look back and laugh because I'm often so happy these days that I annoy people with my positivity.  I used to be very anxious and stressed and now I'm sometimes so calm that people think I don't care.  I'm not saying all my problems are solved or that I don't have bad days, but I feel so strong that I know I can handle anything that comes my way and this is in part because of my year without alcohol.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Ego

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Many people use the word "ego" without truly understanding what it means.  Our ego can simply be described as our identity, or our "view of ourselves", but it's our attachment to that view that causes us problems.  When we feel that someone has hurt our feelings we have to ask… did they really hurt our feelings or did they hurt our pride or our ego?   Did they merely challenge our view of ourselves?  Sometimes we accuse others of egotistical behaviour, while our accusation alone is an egotistical act. 

An action or behaviour cannot necessarily be defined as egotistical (eg. simply putting up a photo of ourselves on facebook), it is the intention behind our actions that denotes whether it is egotistical or not.  It's our attachment to that photo or our relationship with it.  The more our intentions come from a loving, positive place the less our ego will control our lives.  

During my years working as an actor I struggled with and became disillusioned by the egotistical nature of the entertainment industry.  I eventually realised that although there are some people in the industry who are driven by fame, fortune and celebrity, there are actually a larger percentage who are working in the industry because they genuinely enjoy the artistic process, they have authentic stories to tell and they want to make a positive contribution to society.  Aesthetically both of these groups of people appear to be taking the same actions, but it's their intention that seperates them.   When our intention is focussed on sharing our experiences or our story with others it becomes an art form or a spiritual exercise.  It's simply communication.  It's not about "me", it's about sharing what we've learnt with others.  When we're driven by a desire to give to others through the expression of our skills and passions we enjoy the ride without being attached to the end result.  The irony is that when driven by positive intentions we often get the A grade fantasy and end result we dream of.  It's greed, ego and unhealthy competition that ultimately lead to our demise.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, most of us are attached to our “view” or label we've given to ourselves.  Whether it’s “I’m outgoing”, “I’m shy”, “I’m a hard worker”, “I’m a nice person”, “I’m a bitch”.  When we let go of restricting ourselves to labels and we accept the spectrum of qualities we have within us we allow ourselves to just “be”.  We don’t have a side to defend, we don’t have a view to protect.  We are able to judge less, love more and we have a better shot at creating the lives and relationships we truly desire.  

Less than a week left to donate to Odyssey House and help them give those affected by drug and alcohol abuse a fresh start.  If you would like to donate, you can do so via this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

2013 The End and New Beginnings

Sydney, Australia

I'm nearing the end of my year without alcohol and I've had so much fun without it that I'm feeling reluctant to start drinking again.  Even big events such as New Year's Eve turned out to be better without alcohol.  In fact, it was one of my top New Year Celebrations of all time!  I was working either side of New Year, yet I was able to fly up to Sydney for the night, celebrate with an amazing group of people by the fireworks of the Harbour Bridge and finish up on the beach at 5am.  After a few hours sleep I enjoyed Bondi Beach on New Year's day and flew home to Melbourne in time for work feeling fresh as a daisy!  I don't think I would have been able to do this if I was drinking, or at least, it would have been extremely painful.  I'm not trying to brag about what a great time I had, I just want to illustrate that we don't need alcohol to enhance celebrations or our lives, in fact, sober celebrations can be more enjoyable.

Sydney Harbour Bridge New Year Fireworks 2013

The reality that has become clear over the last (almost) year is the way our energy ebbs and flows.  It rises up and passes away.  I've taken notice of how much our lives are effected by what we put into our bodies.  We are constantly changing and the chemical reaction of alcohol in our body interfere's with our natural rhythm.  I'm so happy bouncing around early on Saturday and Sunday mornings and I just don't know if I have tolerance for hangovers anymore.  I can't get back those precious weekend hours that were spent hungover (so many in my 20's!) and I don't want to lose any more.  That's how I'm feeling now.  I guess only time will tell...

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate via this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Dress-up's

Sober silliness

My year without alcohol seems like a game of dress up's compared to what some people go through with alcohol and drugs.  Most of us are lucky enough to be born to healthy parents who's biggest mistake might be smothering us with too much love, while for some, alcohol and drug abuse is part of their childhood.  When we consider how many of us can become dependent on alcohol purely from a social perspective, struggling to have just a couple of months of abstinence, we can only begin to understand how difficult it must be for those who have serious alcohol and drug problems to abstain completely.  My hat goes off to the residents of Odyssey House who are brave enough to admit they need help, face their problems head on and work so hard to create new lives for themselves regardless of traumatic upbringings or experiences.  

More alcohol free fun!

I visited Odyssey House myself and saw first hand the amazing work they are doing to help those with serious alcohol and drug dependency re-build their lives, self-esteem and health.   There are less than 2 months left to donate to Odyssey House and help them give those affected by drug and alcohol abuse a fresh start.  If you would like to donate, you can do so via this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Alternatively, you can show support by doing your own alcohol abstinence for 3, 6 months or a year!  Sign up to Hello Sunday Morning today and join the community that is working toward changing our drinking culture hellosundaymorning.org - Hello Sunday Morning

Righteous dude!

Port Melbourne, Australia

When surveyed, the majority of people say that they believe themselves to have higher moral values than other people.  If we all think we are better than each other no wonder there's a lot of intolerance in society.  When we think our way is the only way and everyone else is wrong we create an arrogance, ignorance and sometimes a superiority complex (which if you scratch beneath the surface is really coming from insecurity).

When we let go of ego, and rather than pushing our righteous opinions and views onto each other, we think “what can I learn from this person?” we create more tolerance and acceptance of others and we grow.  I’m not saying we should devalue our own opinions, throw caution to the wind and take on everyone else’s values.  I’m saying that when we stay grounded and connected to our own values, but respect and listen to other people’s views we become happier, more intelligent and loving.   Basically we become better people.

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Non-Alcoholic High

Looking for a fun night, but don't want the pain of a hangover the next day?  The last 10 months have trained me up in the art of The Non-Alcoholic High (and no, I haven't taken recreational drugs).  The most extreme highs have been the natural ones that have come from meditation, running and yoga, but if that's not your thing, here are some other ideas:

Sleep deprivation, hard work & sugar = non-alcoholic high

* Sleep deprivation - Lack of sleep is an easy road to delirium.  I'm sure anyone who has stayed up late studying, working or watching TV on DVD knows too well that sleep deprivation can lead to uncontrollable laughter, absent mindedness and other side effects similar to those of alcoholic intoxication.  CAUTION: Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while in this state.

* The Sugar High - Soft drinks, lollies, cakes or chocolate can be a good substitute for alcohol at a party and can help keep your energy high on the dance floor.  This really only works if you have these foods on rare occassions.  If you have processed sugar every day your body builds up an immunity to it and it can cause long term damage.

* Cheesy dreams - Why have all the fun in our waking hours?  Why not fulfill our A grade fantasies while we sleep?  Studies have shown that eating cheese right before bed can induce some delightfully lucid dreams.  After eating the cheese it's best to prepare yourself for sleep by writing down and imagining how you want to feel in your dreams.  Certain cheeses can trigger specific dream genres (http://www.dairyreporter.com/R-D/Cheese-unlocks-your-wildest-dreams-says-study) and I can confirm from experience that Cheddar = celebrity dreams!  Not joking!  If we master fulfilling our fantasies while we sleep we are more likely to turn our dreams into reality.

* Tea Time - It might sound lame, but I've got my kicks from some serious tea drinking sessions!  My favourites are Green tea and Ginger tea.  Ginger is actually a natural stimulant, so when you chop up ginger root, put it in boiling water and munch on the remaining ginger in the bottom of the cup, it not only gives your immune system a boost, but it also gives you a spring in your step!

I'm not sure whether it was the sleep deprivation, a long day of filming or sugar that were responsible for the picture above, but things got sideways that night and neither of us had a drop of alcohol.  As I'm nearing the end of my year without alcohol I have to say, I've had so much fun without it, I'm not in any rush to "get back on it!"

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Channing Tatum said so...

One of my favourite films of 2012 was "21 Jump Street".  Aside from some eye candy (hello Channing Tatum) and lots of laughs, the film has a strong underlying message which is to promote that it's "cool" to care about other people, the environment and humanity in general.  I don't know why it was ever "cool" to pick on people, but I'm glad that fad has faded and since high school I think most us have grown out of trying to be "cool".  I've definitely noticed positive changes in society in this direction, but sometimes it still seems more acceptable or more common to put someone down or bitch about them than it is to give them a compliment.  I'm sure you agree that this doesn't seem quite right.  With all the awareness and rallying against bullies in the school yard, why do some adults think it's okay for them to bully other adults?  Is it a lack of education, lack of awareness or are we too afraid that we will be outcast if we don't instigate it or join in?  

Two well known sayings come to mind "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all" and "Treat others the way you want to be treated".  If we are living by the latter then there seem to be quite a few of us who want to be bitched about, spoken to like we are stupid and put down.  Every time we say something negative about someone else we are making ourselves transparent because all it does is show our own insecurities.  If our boss calls us stupid, a friend calls us weak or a family member calls us lazy, they are rejecting unwanted behaviour in themselves.  We had the perfect response when we were kids "I know you are, you said you are, so what am I?".  It's probably not a very helpful response outside of the playground, but we can see clearly that when others taunt, tease or put us down that it's really about them, so it's not personal and we don't need to take it on.  "Bullies" are not bad people, they are merely misguided and when we respond with unwaivering kindness we have a chance at helping them curb their damaging behaviour patterns.  Strength is not measured by force or aggression, but by tenderness and love. 

We've all done it.  Aside from maybe the Dalai Lama the rest of us mortals are bound to let a neg slide here and there, heck there are dating books that encourage putting others down!  What we really have to ask is what does it say about us when we criticise others?  Does it make us feel better about ourselves?  On the surface it may appear to, but all it does is inflate the falsity of the ego and subconsciously it makes us feel worse.  When we voice more of our positive, kind thoughts and refuse to say negative things about others, we find that a gesture as simple as a compliment not only makes others smile, but it makes us feel good too.  When we come together with love and compassion we conquer bullying behaviour and it creates a pattern where "bullies" are the ones who are having to sacrifice their beliefs and they must be kind in order to fit into society rather than the other way around.  We are not in competition with each other, we are here to help each other and when we live in harmony we live longer, happier, more fulfilling lives.  Hey, if Channing Tatum said so...

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Medicate or Meditate?

Having a cold beer or a glass of wine after a hard day is considered normal in most social circles.  It's a common belief that alcohol can help us achieve relaxation.  It's all well and good to have the odd drink, but is  it really a good idea to use alcohol for relaxation or stress relief?

Bondi to Bronte walk, Sydney, Australia

In it’s early stages alcohol appears to quieten the mind and help us achieve a peaceful state.  This effect is caused by  the releasing of chemicals into the pleasure centres of the brain creating a diversion from our stressful feelings or thoughts and giving the illusion of stress relief.  Instead of concentrating on our thoughts we concentrate on the pleasurable feelings we are experiencing thus quietening our mind and achieving a momentary state of bliss.  A kind of meditative state.  But studies have shown that just one glass of wine in the evening can disturb our quality of sleep.

A healthy alternative is obviously meditation and although there's a lot more awareness of the benefits, many still consider meditation as foreign or unattainable.  What most people don't know is that we don't have to completely empty our minds to be successful at it.  Any time spent in silence with our eyes closed and the intention of peace is much more beneficial than most people realise.  It's the mind's nature to wander, what's important is that we don't get frustrated when it does and we gently bring the mind back to whatever the meditation technique teaches us to focus on, which can be as simple as the breath.

If our goal is to quiet the mind so that we can connect with our inner peace and achieve a meditative state of bliss and alcohol and mediation appear to have similar effects, alcohol is usually the preferred choice simply for it's immediate effects and social popularity.  But we need to look at the bigger picture.  With alcohol the momentary state of bliss seems to get shorter the more we drink and can be accompanied by many health problems with the hangover being the least of our worries.  Whereas the more we practise meditation the longer the states of bliss last for and the better we get at achieving them.  When we meditate instead of medicate we improve both our short term and long term health, relaxation and general well being.   Meditation is a practise, not a religion, so anyone can do it.  It's benefits are recognised by many scientists giving evidence to the idea that faith and science are not contradictory, they are complimentary.

I've tried several meditation techniques and these are the two I'd recommend in Melbourne:

Softcore meditation (recommended for beginners)
This drop in class only costs $12 including refreshments.  You don't have to sit on the floor with your legs crossed (although you're welcome to do so at the back of the room if you'd prefer), the room is filled with comfortable chairs and the meditation portion of the class is very easy and relaxed.   Gen Kelsang Dornying is particuarly hilarious (comparable to a stand up comedian).  These classes are held all over Australia.  Check out the below link for your nearest class:
http://meditateinmelbourne.org/albert-park

Hardcore meditation
To learn this technique you must complete a 10 day Vippassana course (which is paid for by donation or serving).  I'd recommend reading "The Art of Living" by Mr. S.N. Goenka before attending the course.  My advice is to stick to the rules while taking a course, but only apply the principles to your life that fit for you.
www.aloka.dhamma.org

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Commitment

Spot the sober person!  (Carrum Beach, Melbourne, Australia)

There comes a time during every commitment where it's tempting to doubt and question whether to continue.  That time for me has been over the last month.  Not drinking alcohol during winter was a breeze (excuse the pun).  Any desire to drink was only momentary, sweeping and followed by a deep appreciation for the positives of my abstinence.  Over the last 8 months I've had times where I've wondered whether I would ever want to drink again and I do think that at some point in my life I will stop drinking altogether, but for now my goal was to challenge societies views on alcohol and I feel like I've done that.  

At this point I've achieved everything I was aiming to do and more than I imagined and I've found myself contemplating whether to end my abstinence here.  I'm so busy taking action on the things I set out to do that I have less time to analyse my life without alcohol.  With wedding season in full swing and the festive season fast approaching I've bargained with myself that the odd celebratory champas wouldn't hurt, but I'm still having a ball at events without drinking (this photo taken at an engagement party being a perfect example), so on the other hand there's also no reason why I need to drink.  Looking at what I've achieved so far makes me all the more curious to see what the next 4 months will bring.  So I'm honouring my commitment through the summer and all the way to March 25th 2013.  Let the sober festive season begin!

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Laughter is the best medicine

We all know the saying "laughter is the best medicine", but how often do we actually reach for a laugh instead of a pill or tablet?  According to Dr Soroush Habibi children laugh on average 400 times a day whereas adults only laugh around 15 times a day.  In the past society and advertising have taught us to reach for drugs to cure our ailments, but as we are becoming more aware of the benefits of natural remedies we are learning that a cure for pain can be as simple as a good hearty laugh.  Uncle Albert in the classic Mary Poppins laughed so hard that he floated up to the ceiling.  Doesn't laughter feel so good that at times we feel as if we are floating?

Pain can be used to describe stress, sadness, loss, depression, physical injury or sickness and it can go as far as describing embarrassment or disappointment.  At times we feel pressured to take pain very seriously.  In these situations we feel that we should be crying not laughing because it's a time for sympathy and jokes or humour are frowned upon as most inappropriate. If we take all painful experiences seriously we set ourselves up for a pretty solemn life.  When we are able to have a sense of humour through our misery it gives us a chance to release some of the pressure and allows us to still acknowledge and address the pain, yet maintain a connectedness to the understanding that everything is going to be okay and nothing is the end of the world... except the end of the world.  


When we look at the irony of any given situation there's always an opportunity for comedy, even in the midst of horrific pain, a change of perspective can trigger a therapeutic laugh.  I'm not saying that if someone is in pain we should point at them and laugh, I'm saying if we are able to find the humour in our own pain then we can encourage those around us to laugh and instead of misery spreading misery we spread laughter and hope.  Misery loves company, but so does laughter.

Benefits of laughter

* Save money and look younger: a simple smile releases natural chemicals in the face which cause a youthful effect in the skin.  Put your wrinkle cream or injection money toward seeing a funny movie, going to see some stand up or spending time with family and friends.  I know my family and friends can still make me laugh more than any comedian.

* Healthy lungs & immune system: laughter can help clear mucus from your lungs and it increases the concentration of immunoglobulin A in your saliva which helps fight off colds, flu and sinus.

* Healthy heart: laughter increases circulation and improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout your body.

* Tone up: We all know that a good laugh can result in aching abs the next day.  A hearty laugh exercises our neck, chest, abdomen and diaphragm!

* Fight stress and pain:  laughter raises the levels of endorphins and T-cells which releases stress, aids in pain relief and works like a natural tranquilliser.  

* Relaxation:  laughter's tranquilliser effect naturally relaxes the body.  Instead of reaching for a glass of wine after a hard day, reach for a joke instead.

* Happiness: the most obvious benefit of laughter is increased happiness.

They say bad news travels fast, but when we make an effort to spread funny stories instead our laughter becomes contagious and ripples through society lifting the energy of towns, cities and countries until happiness is a more powerful force.    "...and the more the glee... he he he he... the more I'm a merrier me..." (from the song I love to laugh, Mary Poppins).

(Dr Soroush Habibi owns and practises at ProWellness, Port Melbourne.  He has written the book Nutritional Healing which is referenced in this post)

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Past to Present

Southbank, Melbourne, Australia

Past to Present
Say it now before it's too late.

We don't know what the future holds

or what's beyond the gate.

Regrets are unnecessary,

just say how you feel.

And you will find the words are kind,

no need to conceal.

Don't look back.

Do not say mistake.

You cannot dwell on what is done,

it's just a risk you take.

When chances are embraced in full 

and fun, fight, games take hook:

The adventures of your life will be like pages in a book.

I recently came across this poem which I wrote when I was about 14.  Clearly I was a budding Shakepeare (jokes).  Although the words are simple, the meaning behind them is not.  I wrote this before I had read anything about living in the now and before I practised meditation or mindfulness.  It's as if we have the answers when we're young and if we lose our way at some point life forces us to work to reconnect with the wisdom inside of us.  I think this is what they mean when they tell us to get in touch with our inner child.  Our inner child is our true self before life's trials and tribulations build up in our minds and our bodies.  We are not our frustrations, our pains and our fears.  We are not our careers, our possessions or our achievements.  Our inner truth is loving and wise.  At the core we are gentle and we are kind.  But in a fast paced world we have to constantly work to remain connected to this part of ourselves so that we don't allow negative thoughts and feelings to manifest into anger, fears or limitations.

The past only affects our present if we allow it to.  If we let go of the past then, and only then, are we able to fully live in the present and avoid limiting ourselves to repeating patterns of behaviour over and over throughout our lives.  
We are the authors of our own lives and we have the ability to create anything we want.  We just have to work out exactly what that is.  Your carriage awaits...

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Relax Max

Port Melbourne, Australia

August was a busy month.  This week I finally finished a project I’ve been working really hard on, so by Friday night I was ready to celebrate!  I rocked up at a friend’s birthday a little disappointed that I couldn’t have a celebratory champagne.  Instead I drank flavoured soda water all night (I’m really living on the edge!) and in the end I was actually glad I couldn't drink because not only did I have an amazing night dancing and chatting to friends, but I woke this morning feeling fresh as a daisy!

In low doses (one or two drinks) alcohol may have effects that are associated with relaxation, but by not drinking I managed to feel relaxed Friday night through to Saturday and the effects will last all weekend.  Any time I surpass a desire to drink because of my year without it I have such a good time and wake the next morning feeling so amazing that I wonder what all the hype over drinking is about.  To all those who have said they couldn't do a year without alcohol (a surprising 90% of people I've spoken to) I have to tell you:  Life is just as good, if not better without it!

I've come across a whole community of alcohol abstainers called Hello Sunday Morning.  Started up by a guy  in his yearly 20's called Chris Raine the site is home to thousands of supporters and members who blog about their experiences with sobriety during stints of 3/6 months or 1 year off alcohol.  It's nothing short of amazing!  Social media is not my forte, but thankfully the 20 somethings have it all under control!  Check out the website: http://hellosundaymorning.com.au/about/

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Same Same... But Different

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” ~ Audre Lorde 

Sydney, Australia

Our differences are recognisable by the way we dress, our mannerisms, our lifestyle choices, our beliefs, our behaviour; with no two people the same, what a diverse and interesting world we live in.  But no matter how different we may appear on the surface, at the heart of all of us is a similarity that will always connect us.  We are human.  And what is it to be human?  At the core we are all driven by a need for love and a search for happiness and meaning in our lives.  The way we go about this is what creates the divide... but why does there have to be a divide at all?  

I recently read an article on the struggles of being a mother and the writer was defending the judgements placed on parents by non-parents.  After the article there was an extremely lengthy argument of posts between parents and non-parents.   All they were doing was justifying their position and what they’re going through.  All I could hear from each of them is “understand me”.  Why do we feel the need to justify our choices?  Why do people who have made different choices to us or people who are different automatically become the opposition?  Now that racial and sexual orientation discrimination is no longer tolerated or socially acceptable, are we just finding other ways of disapproving of each other?  

Expression of opinion can be healthy, but if we debate out of ego it can develop into anger or rage.  Where do we draw the line?  Religious vs non-religious, single vs married, parents vs non-parents, drinkers vs non-drinkers, men vs women, introverted vs extroverted... If I consider myself an optimist and I condemn pessimists, well then that's rather pessimistic of me isn't it?  We complain about injustice and war in the world, yet we are creating mini wars with each other every day.  Why can’t we just respect each other’s choices and accept each other the way we are?  

Whether I hear an excerpt from the Torah, the Bible or a book about our place in the Universe, whether I hear a Priest, Monk, Rabi, Yogi or Scientist speak… I hear the same voice.  A voice that says we all have good in us and we must grow and work to remain connected to this part of ourselves each day.  Anyone acting from anger and hatred is merely misguided, and before we start pointing the finger at other people, we must realise that we have all been guilty of this at some point.  None of us are an exception to this rule.  We are human.  And the human condition is beautifully flawed creating a desire to learn and grow to be better.   The more we work on accepting ourselves and others, the more our enemies become our friends, our struggles become our successes, our anger becomes compassion and intolerance becomes acceptance and appreciation for our differences.  

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

I've had the time of my life... and I owe it all to Booze??

Dirty Dancing

"...you're the one thing I can't get enough of
so I'll tell you something... This could be love...
be-cause I've had the time of my life and I've never felt this way before,
yes I swear it's the truth and I owe it all to BOOZE..."

When we were young most of us who tasted alcohol thought it was disgusting, we couldn't understand why adults liked it so much and swore we would never drink it, but after acquiring a taste for it and choosing our poison our relationship with alcohol may have, at some point, resembled this famous Dirty Dancing song.

So what created this love affair with alcohol? 

Quentin Tarantino (a famous film maker) often “presents” independent films so that they have a better chance of getting a decent audience at the cinema, but he has nothing to do with the making of the film.  So the film is only made more appealing by it’s association with Quentin Tarantino.  Couldn’t that same formula be tricking us into giving alcohol all the credit for a good night out or a fun holiday?  Is it possible that we were having fun regardless of the fact that we were drinking, but the association with alcohol and a good time means we assume the alcohol was responsible for the fun?   

Alcohol is only "cool" by association.  Association with spending time with friends, letting go and having a good time.  It is true that sometimes alcohol may help us release our inhibitions, but we can do that without alcohol.  We did it as kids, we're just out of practise and we need to retrain ourselves to loosen up naturally.

"...With my body and soul I want you more than you'll ever know.. 
so we'll just let it go, don't be afraid to lose control..."

When we don't rely on alcohol as a social lubricant we learn to let go without it, both mentally and physically.  When our bodies are left to their natural devices they release endorphins in the same way that they do when we go for a run, play sport, take a yoga class or similar.  It might feel a little strange at first, but eventually it feels even better than letting go when drinking and the bonus is:  There's no hangover!  If other cultures can dance like no one's watching without needing "dutch courage", then surely so can we!

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Life is like a (half) marathon

Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia

Life is like a marathon.  
We draw inspiration from the people in front of us 
and we are humbled by those behind us, 
but the key is to stay focussed on ourselves,
where we're headed 
and compete only against our own best.

If we focus too much on the people overtaking us 
or in front of us we can become disheartened 
and if we look back too often at those behind us 
we can lose focus and trip up.  

There are always going to be rough spots;

pain kicks in, we feel like we can't take it any longer
and we want to give up.
But when we push through, adrenalin kicks in, 
we're taken to another level 
and we experience an intoxicating, rewarding high.

On Sunday I ran my fist half marathon.  This time 1 year ago I was recovering from surgery.  This time 2 years ago I couldn't run for longer than 5-10 minutes at a time (and I thought I never would).  
It wasn't easy, but I did it and I'm getting the sense that it's true when they say anything is possible.

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here:http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6