Spiritual Minded Military Massachusetts Army National Guard: How to Stay Sober When Every Social Event Has Alcohol — The Sobriety Survival Protocol
The VFW's retirement party was held at the VFW in Worcester. Cookout at Milford Armory. The unit is meeting at Springfield's bar. The wedding reception in Boston. The funeral followed the service in Quincy.
Alcohol is at all social functions in Massachusetts. Not any social activities. Nearly all social occasions.
Beer is in the cooler at the kids' birthday party. The church potluck is on the table, and there is wine. A cash bar is at the high school reunion. At the battalion Christmas party the bar is open.
You're attempting to abstain from alcohol. You're attempting to keep recovery going. You're attempting to navigate a culture that's uncomfortable with the words "no, thank you."
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." — 1 Corinthians 10:13
THE THREE QUESTIONS YOU ASK BEFORE EVERY EVENT
1. "Do i have to go?”
It's not always easy to say yes. Sitting out of events is ok. It's okay to keep your sobriety. Stay at home.
2. "When someone is going, do I have to go too?
No, you can attend the ceremony and attend the reception as well. You can attend the dinner and exit before the bar opens. You can come and go without a problem.
3. "What am I going to do?”
The Sobriety Survival Protocol is your plan.
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THE SOBRIETY SURVIVAL PROTOCOL
Step One: The Pre-Event Brief
Prior to entering the event, take 1 scoop of Cellular Hydrate in 16 ounces of water. Your body will not be thirsty. The enemy is attacking you through your thirst. Pre-hydrate. Pre-arm.
On your Spiritual Minded Military shirt. The uniform is your lifeline. The alcohol is all around. The uniform reminds you who you are.
Make a plan and announce it loud and clear. To yourself. To your battle, friend. "I am attending this event; I do not drink; I will leave if I must; I am in control.
Second step: glass strategy
There must be something in your hand. An empty hand is an invitation. A blank hand is a starting hand you don't want. Would you like something to drink?
Your options:
- Sparkling water (club soda) flavored with lime. Looks like a cocktail. Tastes like hydration.
- Mushroom coffee in a mug. It is not coffee hour. No one is going to ask what's in your mug.
- Water. Plain water. Water is everyone's right.
You hold the drink, which will serve as your shield. The offer is blocked by the shield. The shield provides protection for a short period of time. The shield will help you remain sober.
Step Three: Exit strategy
There's no need to run or hide. Everyone is never locked in. You have a car. You have legs. You do have an exit plan.
There are three levels of exit strategy:
- Level one: Step out of the room for 5 minutes. Fresh air. Silence. Recenter.
- Level Two: Go to the toilet. Lock the door. Three deep breaths. State aloud, "I will NOT drink. I am in control."
- Level Three: Leave. There is no one to whom you are responsible for providing an explanation. "I have to go." This is a full sentence.
Step Four: The After-Action Review
You survived. You stayed sober. Now debrief.
- What was hard? The toast? The open bar? The old friend who asked questions that were too many?
- What worked? The glass strategy? The exit? The battle buddy?
- How will you change up your approach next time?
The after-action review is intelligence in the making.
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THE BATTLE BUDDY SYSTEM
You must have a battle companion for social events. Not a buddy from the military. A soldier. A person who has an understanding of the mission.
Your task is to be your battle buddy:
- Arrive together. Go away together, if necessary.
- The secret signal. A hand signal indicating, "I need to go." One finger. Two fingers. A scratch on the nose. Make your decision in advance.
- No judgment. If you have to leave after 10 minutes, you do. You're not questioned by your battle buddy. Your battle buddy follows.
Without a battle buddy, it's a higher-risk event. You're the battle buddy. Your exit strategy is your plan.
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THE BOSTON BAR SCENE
Boston is one of the cities with the most bars per capita. The North End. Faneuil Hall. Southie. The Seaport. On every corner of every neighborhood there is a bar.
The Massachusetts National Guard has troops in every man's backyard. Military personnel who are forced to deal with a culture in which "going out for a drink" is the norm.
You're not a hermit. You are not boring. You are on mission.
The Sobriety Survival Protocol is not a protocol of avoidance of social events. The Sobriety Survival Protocol is just about attending social events on your terms.
THE THREE CONVERSATION TRAPS
1. "Why are you not drinking?"
Responses:
- "I am driving."
- "I have an early morning."
- "I am doing a sobriety challenge."
- "I do not drink anymore."
- "It is personal."
You do not owe anyone your medical history. You do not owe anyone the story of your addiction. A one-sentence answer is enough.
2. "One drink will not hurt."
Responses:
- "One drink is not worth the risk."
- "I am fine with what I have."
- "No thank you." (Repeat as needed)
The person asking is not your enemy. The person asking is probably uncomfortable with their own drinking. Your sobriety confronts their choices. That is not your problem.
3. "You are no fun anymore."
Responses:
- "I have more fun now. I remember the fun."
- "I found new ways to have fun."
- "I am still the same person. I just do not drink."
The person who says this is afraid. They are afraid that your sobriety means you are leaving them behind. You are not leaving them. You are saving yourself.
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." — Proverbs 20:1
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THE CAMP EDWARDS ASSIGNMENT
Camp Edwards on Cape Cod is your training ground. You have drilled there. You have trained there. You have stood in formation there.
Camp Edwards does not have a bar. The social events at Camp Edwards are different. The social events in the civilian world are harder.
Your assignment is not to avoid social events. Your assignment is to attend them sober and leave sober.
The Sobriety Survival Protocol is your training for the civilian battlefield. The same discipline you learned at Camp Edwards applies to the bar in Boston. Situational awareness. Mission focus. Exit strategy.
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Conclusion
Massachusetts Army National Guard, you asked how to stay sober when every social event has alcohol.
The Sobriety Survival Protocol is your answer.
The pre-event brief. The glass strategy. The exit strategy. The battle buddy. The after-action review. Cellular Hydrate in your hand. Mushroom Coffee in your mug. Your Spiritual Minded Military shirt on your chest.
You do not have to hide. You do not have to avoid social events. You have to have a plan. The Sobriety Survival Protocol is the plan.
Every event is a mission. The mission is to stay sober. The protocol is how.
This is the Spiritual Minded Military Sobriety Survival Protocol for the Massachusetts Army National Guard. The social event is enemy territory. You have the protocol. Enter. Execute. Exit sober. Fall in.
The Remnant does not transition. The Remnant re-enlists.
Spiritual Minded Military
We don't rank, we reign.
THE LITTLE GENERAL DOCTRINE
THIS IS NOT A SUGGESTION. IT IS A DIRECTIVE FOR THE ELITE 1%. [BY ORDER OF THE LITTLE GENERAL]
15-YEARS DRUG-FREE | WORLD CHAMPION | VETERAN