I've been thinking about all the different ways alcoholics get sober. Most of the time we hear about tricks, tips, diversions, and programs, but actual statistics that compare methodology, find that the vast majority who quit do so on their own. We don't hear from those people. They don't show up in meetings or make a big deal about their sobriety. I don't know if these people are actual alcoholics, or just realized they gained little from drinking. I had a friend with 20 plus years, who simply quit. Full stop; end of story. He gave no explanations or inside information about it, even when pressed, except that he did mention he always got in trouble when he drank. One time he got shot and was subsequently hospitalized.
When athletes want to become better, they practice the skills of their sport. They strengthen the muscles they use. When astronauts want to go to space, they practice the skills they need. In thinking about myself, I practiced being sober. I thought, planned, and developed strategies to avoid alcohol. That seemed right for me, but I would never discourage others from using whatever approach they wanted, as long as it didn't involve drinking. That is the one thing that matters more than anything else, at least if your goal is to stop drinking.
