#DailyBloggingChallenge (94/100)
The other day partook in a festive fraternity event that is heavily accompanied by drinking and smoking. The last time I did one to the size of this extent was more than 5a ago and at a time where I was a heavy binger, averaging at 4-6 litres of beer per event.
The hardest part of doing such events without #alcohol is to be in a social and active state of mind. With the sedative effects of alcohol and the energy boosting effects of nicotine, one can easily make any wallflower extroverted. Now try to do it without legal drugs, its not that simple.
I was quite astonished even after taking on the persona of a social butterfly, how much more courage is needed when specific anxious thoughts of embarrassment arouse.
There was this one part where each frat sings their verse of a song. I thought I knew my verse but I just couldn’t remember line 4 of 8. In the past with alcohol I would have made something up so that it sounds correct, just to keep the embarrassment to a minimum. Though even this back up plan made my legs turn to jello.
One frat after the next one was being called, just wondering when they will be calling on me. The longer it took, the more and more uneasy my legs became.
In the end, I wasn’t called on, though this experience reminded me of the absolute first time I had to do it alone. Back then I had the power of liquid courage which made me witty enough to wing it.
(Just recapping the story brings me back to the same emotional state.)
