What would become of a day, if one did not open that beer or pour that glass of wine? How much of our anxiety is the reality of life verses the withdrawals of alcohol? If it is not a problem, then why do we not just stop?
Thinking about my own social interactions this past week, not once did someone praise God. Not once did someone say a word of thanks for what the Lord has blessed us with. More than once someone raised a glass to say cheers. More than once someone relished in the glory of their fresh beer.
I looked around my world this week, and I found myself surrounded by people that condone drunk driving. How many times since Three AM Rump (as the guys call her) was arrested for a DUI, did I hear, “it could happen to any of us?” I am fascinated by the fact that she is still at the bar nearly every night, seven days a week. No one takes exception to this, despite the fact that the terms of her bail clearly state that she cannot drink or possess alcohol, yet she does this day in and day out. People do take exception to someone accused of taking pictures of her while she is busy violating the terms of her bail. That someone is me.
I have a target on my back. I am being ridiculed, and talked about in the bar scene. A close, drunk friend of mine told me on Thursday that taking pictures of Rump violating her probation was wrong…really wrong. I am hated for it.
Never has being hated felt so good. The events that have unfolded these past weeks make me realize so much. What the events of these past weeks make me realize is that I am surrounding myself with the wrong people. I am surrounding myself with people that easily forget all that I have done for them. It is more important to morally support the party crowd than the incredibly hard working person that are always supportive of them.
People are committed to their drinking problems. People are committed to their bar scene. These are people that are quick to turn on one another, and they are going no further than they are right now.
What really scares me is the redundancy of the phrase, “It could happen to any of us?”
I DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. I am surrounded by people who condone it. I am surrounded by people that do not see a problem with it. This is scary.
So where do we go from here? Shall we go to the court to report Rump’s ongoing violations of her bail? No, sadly the Harris County courts champion those like Rump, who are not hard working citizens. They frown upon people like me that work hard for our lives, and back our police officers.
From here, I go new places. I am going to join a running club. I am going to join a church. I am going sever ties with the toxic people that I mistakenly surrounded myself with. I am going to find a whole new world. I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow and start my new life. I will begin with a long run, a visit to a new coffee shop, my day at work, and then an evening with my children.
Everyday this week, I am going to visit a new place. I am going to reach out to 10 people that I care about, and I am going to begin rebuilding my surroundings. Wish me luck!