When I first started going to The Meetings™️, I loved hearing all the little nuggets of wisdom that made sense. It was even better if they were funny or clever. I didn’t know if I wanted to quit drinking forever or if I was a “real” Alcoholic with a capital A.
I was in a group this morning and the topic of “avoiding the first drink” came up. It reminded me of a couple things I heard over the years that clicked for me.
One is allegedly a Chinese proverb that goes, “First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man.” I relate to that one very much. My personality changed instantaneously when I had my first drink of the day or night. So did my physicality. My body craved more and more booze right away.
The second little catchphrase comes from more contemporary times with a blue collar twist. I remember this grizzled guy kind of grunting this one at me:
“It ain’t the kaboose that kills ya.”
It’s clever, it’s quick, and it’s true. If I imagine alcohol like a train coming at me, if I don’t let the first car hit me maybe I have a chance of avoiding getting run over.