A visit to a Muslim country

Hello - I am back from a two week vacation in a warm Muslim/Arab country. It was fascinating and wonderful...my husband and I visited a 9th century mosque and the imam took my hands into his, and holding me close, he said: "There is one God; Christian, Jewish, Muslim; there is one God, and God is love."

It was beautiful and deeply touching. I felt he wanted me to take his message back to America. So here I have....

Muslims often abstain from alcohol. This was great. They have so many wonderful alcohol free drinks. Fabulous! The lemons were almost like limes and there was a drink made with lemons, fresh mint, sugar and ice that was out of this world! And hibiscus tea is so divine, hot or cold. Cold, it is mixed with sparkling water and lime.

Being "off line" and away from it all, and immersed in a new culture and new people for two weeks was energizing and inspiring.  I do know how very lucky I am to have been able to make this trip.  A trip of a lifetime.

I just returned to my computer, and to reading various blog spots and groups for folks trying to contain their alcohol consumption. Seeing it all from a fresh perspective, what struck me is this: for so many people, it is a regular, daily struggle to decide whether to drink or not. It is a cycle for so many people, and I truly feel that it puts a big strain on them.

Every day, so much mental energy spent trying to decide whether to drink or not; counting drinks, having too many, self-flagellation, recovery, and repeat. Exhausting and draining. And yet, for so many of us (of course, including me at points in my life), we have gone along this way, thinking that it was "normal," or somehow all that we deserved. It isn't okay, because we deserve so much better. We deserve peace. Give peace a chance.

I love being free from worry. I just read about the Bollywood actress who died at age 53 in Dubai (I was in Dubai for one day during my journeys). Turns out she was drunk and slipped in her bathtub and drowned.  So sad, and it could happen or could have happened to so many of us. Ah, I can now say that God willing, that will never happen to me. 

I was saying the other day that it is impossible to be mindful and drunk. As a spiritual person, I want to be mindful now, and at that day when I pass on from this life. Dying drunk would be absolutely horrible, to my thinking.

On that rather depressing note, I will sign off for now! Hope to hear from some of you soon, and that you are all doing well...


Comments

  1. UntipsyteacherFebruary 28, 2018 at 6:34 AM

    That sounds like a beautiful trip!
    Amazing!
    God is love.
    We, as people, are killing ourselves with alcohol, drugs, sex, and other addictions.
    It makes me sad that we think we can only cope or have fun by using something or somebody.
    I am so happy I don't drink anymore!
    xo
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MereMarch 4, 2018 at 11:10 AM

      Thanks, Wendy! It was an amazing honeymoon! Mere

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sober Grief

My Easter weekend was a success in many ways. I did not miss the wine. My aged mother is so old, it seems, that she didn't notice me not drinking. That, or she chose to say nothing. Either way, I wasn't hassled. In fact, the only "not nice" thing she said was this (about my new house): "I hope you are grateful that I have exercised enormous restraint and said nothing about your home decorating!" I know, right? I am grateful, actually! My pain came from my son.  Funny how you expect the pain to come from one direction (mom), you think the other direction is completely safe (beloved son), and you get blindsided. Life... On the good side, he and my mom had a lot of quality time together, and that was beautiful to see. On the not-so-good side, my beloved son made it clear that he does not affirm my new marriage. My son has become a very conservative, religious man. My partner and I had already bought a house together and I thought he would be pleased...
Read more

Rage: I drank alcohol!

Ah well, only hours after my peaceful post about Lent, I found myself fighting rage. Why? Because some other human made a mistake, and I felt vulnerable. I took my husband out to a fine, upscale Afghan restaurant for his birthday. So far so good. This place is wonderful. We had a young, white, female waitress. She arrived with a huge wine and bar list. I asked for a mocktail list. She said they didn't have one, but that the bartender was very good at making alcohol free cocktails, such as cosmos and dacquiri's. I said ok, but let him know it would be great if they created a mocktail list. (This is my "campaign" and I ask for it at every restaurant I go to...) She returned to the table and I asked for a fruity drink with lots of seltzer in a tall glass that I could enjoy all evening. (Just like what I have at home.) She brought it to me. The glass was not tall at all, but at least it had ice and didn't look like a martini. I had three sips. I noticed it t...
Read more

Anxiety and Alcohol

Day 155 here. I am moving into a new phase of self-examination. I am being mindful about my anxiety. I am thinking about my anxiety, as I go through my day.  Surprise! I think I drank largely to address my anxiety, my "monkey mind."   The alcohol is gone. How's that anxiety coming along?  Still there. Morning, noon and night. I am doing some navel gazing about it. Interesting how my anxiety led me to thinking that my son was judging my new marriage (see prior blog) when after heartfelt conversation, I learned otherwise (see my comment to the blog). Someone I admire once told me: "anxiety is a roadblock between you and mindfulness." Anxiety is a barrier to an ongoing relationship with the divine, with others, with wholeness, with self-love, with peace. Alcohol is a temporary solution to an ongoing situation. I've learned from many bloggers, including Mrs. D, that long term sobriety comes with profound introspection. It may be starting for me... An...
Read more