A headline that I saw a couple of days ago about the rise in alcohol-related deaths in the U.S.,Alcohol-related deaths more than doubled in last two decades, came back on my feed today from NPR,U.S. Alcohol-Related Deaths Have Doubled, Study Says. Sadly, I am not surprised by this study because Ive been watching the numbers increase since I stopped drinking back in 2015. These statistics used to infuriate me because I knew that there were so many women and men out there just like me who had gotten sucked into a sort of vortex in middle age that started with what felt like normal daily drinking. The statistics proved that it was happening but every time one of these studies was published, another would follow saying that alcohol and certainly wine, was good for you.

If you are a daily drinker, if you are what is euphemistically called a wine mom, or if you are someone who started drinking routinely back around the beginning of this century because you read that drinking daily was good for your heart, would prevent cancer, might help you lose weight and was absolutely the coolest of the cool things that adults can do please rethink the drink.

Something that I only began to realize after I stopped drinking and stepped back to look at the culture I grew up in, is that I have been SOLD addictive behavior. I, and you, and everybody in most western cultures, is sold the idea that adults should be able to drink daily without it becoming a problem. Weve been sold the idea that drinking is essential to living a full, connected and creative life. We have been sold the idea that if you become dependent on alcohol or addicted to alcohol,the problem is with younotthe drink. We have been sold the idea that only those with a predisposition, with adisease,need be wary of how much they drink and that sobriety is a heavy sort of punishment for those whocannotsafely drink.

The most recent hard sell of this cultural ideal that drinking daily is and should be celebrated, came from Frances president and the cultural elite of that country in response to Frances first intended Dry January initiative

Dry January? France says Non as winemakers cry foul

"France has the third-highest per capita consumption of alcohol among the 36 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to a report from the club of wealthy nations this month.

Alcohol results in 41,000 deaths in France each year, according to France's Public Health Agency, which urges people to limit themselves to two glasses a day -- "and not every day."

But Macron -- who once proclaimed "I drink wine at lunch and dinner!" -- reportedly told winemakers in the Champagne region earlier this month that they had nothing to worry about.

"He told us, 'You can let people know there won't be any Dry January'," Maxime Toubart, president of the Champagne growers' association, told the Vitisphere industry website. "

Is that the attitude only in France? Of course not. You cannot walk into a PTA meeting or a Yoga class in the United States now without someone suggesting or offering wine. Convenient portable cans and extra large 5 liter tetra pack boxes and bottles and magnums of wine fill endless shelves in every grocery store and many gas stations in the U.S. Spiked seltzers, pink gin and fruit flavored vodkas are sold like adult candy waiting for you at the end of a long hard day. The sale of alcohol as somehow benign is relentless. And yetAlcohol-related deaths more than doubled in last two decadesalcohol is not benign.

If you feel like you are drinking too much too often take a break. Open your mind to the possibility that you are being SOLD the idea that you need to drink with the same aggressive techniques that you are sold any product. Break the status quo think for yourself.

Come hang out with us for a while, its free, no one will try to sell you anything at all except the motivation to think for yourself in a creative community. Were private and anonymous as well and off the conventional social media streams which have become a flurry of relentless commercialism selling everything from products to lifestyles to political candidates.

BOOM Rethink the Drink OurDry January Postsare here.In a world where youll be questioned for not drinking with the crowd, well encourage you to find your own path.Sign up and sign in via ourWeb Site hereor download the freeMighty Networks appandfind usatBOOM Community Rethink the Drink.

The conversation that we are having may surprise you. You may surprise yourself. Open your mind to the possibilities of living alcohol free. Even if just for a while.

The Spirit is NOT in the bottle its in You!

Related Posts from Boozemusings:

Breaking Down the Myths : What Can Alcohol REALLY Do For YouGuide to your First Month of Sobriety : Why and How to Quit

Ask Yourself these questions(youll find our answers insideBOOMat the linked titles)

If you can think of one thing that scares you, or scared you most about sobriety what would it be ?

What does Courage mean to you? Does it take courage to be alcohol free? Why?

and were there to help with answers to these as well

What advice would you give our Newbies about those first 30 or 40 days? What do you remember about the early sticking points ?

Early sobriety is so so difficult I am having a very difficult time maintaining motivation. I am one of those who never reached rock bottom.?

What made you *realize* that you had crossed the line and had a very serious alcohol problem?

Do you really PROMISE its better on the other side? Swear?

****************Join the conversation, become a Fix blogger. Share your experience, strength, and hope, or sound off on the issues affecting the addiction/recovery community. Create your account and start writing:https://www.thefix.com/add-community-content.

Excerpt from:
Alcohol Related Deaths Double in the United States - TheFix.com

What do you need to know before going for off-roading in Arizona? Read the article for details.

For men and women, who are new to off-roading in Arizona, below I have mentioned some great 4WD trails to get you started on the road.

It is a 44 trail that is closely situated to the east valley. This trail is usually busy on weekends so you should go to higher elevations because of less traffic over there. You get to enjoy a lot of beautiful sceneries while going up and down the trail. Riders prefer to visit this place during early spring when there is a season for wildflowers. This spur trail will definitely check your driving skills if you decide to do off-roading.

This trail passes by three significant lakes in Arizona and other historical places. The off-roading at this trail is best when you prefer a slow car ride. The trail supports recreational areas for the Phoenix. You can make an all-day trip to Apache Trail. You get to see constant views on the switchbacks near Fish Creek.

The Box Canyon trail is available on the way to Florence in the far southeast valley. Riders get to enjoy technical and rock crawling adventures. This is a short trail but offers beautiful views while challenging your driving skills. If you dont want to sign up for this, there is a bypass nearby where you can enjoy scenic views too. But, dont enter this place when it is actively raining as there are chances of flash-flooding.

This trail is also busy on weekends because it is one of the classic off-road trails in Arizona near the Phoenix area. You can challenge this technical trail because you will be rewarded with a visit to the historic Crown King at the end of the day. If you are going back to Phoenix, then you should stop in Black Canyon City for a delicious pie at Rock Springs Caf.

This trail is a short but scenic one near the Mesa area, Arizona. You can obtain an online permit to visit the Bulldog Canyon. The exit and entry points for off-roading at this trail will depend on your starting point. This quick trail is best for a half-day getaway. If you get lucky, you might see wild horses near Saguaro Lake and Apache Junction.

Never forget the off-road essentials. It is equally significant to find the best off-road accessories and off-road parts to upgrade your vehicle. The upgrading of jeep or truck allows you to experience a smooth off-roading journey even on the roughest trails. The technicians from Offroad Power Products can help you achieve the performance that you are expecting from your off-roading vehicle. Call them to get an upgrade at affordable rates.

It is recommended to keep lower pressure for driving on a paved road. The tires required the least energy to move the vehicle. The higher pressure of tires can cause bounce while off-roading, and you get to experience the rough ride and possible loss of fraction. Therefore, riders need to prefer less air pressure to balance the vehicles weight. Similarly, when you are driving on a muddy or sand surface, you would want to control tires tread to grab hold on the low traction.

It is strictly suggested that dont go off-roading all alone. Even for a quick and short trip. The chances are always there that your vehicle may break down, or you may get injured. Your partner in another vehicle can offer you help whenever needed. He can get a professional tow if there is an emergency. This way, you can increase your odds of getting back home safely and soundly.

Link:
A guide to off-roading in Arizona - AZ Big Media

Were nearly two weeks into 2020, and were not much clearer on Fiorentinas plans than we were last decade. Earlier last week, we published a summary of the initial rumors for the Winter transfer window; this is a brief follow-up to talk about whats new, what fizzled out, and what in the world is going on in Florence. Buckle up.

Even though Patrick Cutrones signature seemed like a sure thing at the beginning of this window (which is now confirmed), it wouldnt be a proper Fiorentina signing if the deal wasnt cast in doubt just hours before it eventually went through. After initial reports all-but-confirmed Cutrones arrival, he returned to Wolves training and put all of our heads in a tizzy. Thankfully, hes now been spotted in purplebut were all too familiar with the theatrics and disappointment that typically follows these rumors. Frankly, regardless of how he performs, its good to see the brass putting forward some real funds to improve this attack.

Apart from Cutrone however, its anybodys guess as to who else will sign for Fiorentina. Its unlikely that well sign another starting-quality striker, so we can safely disregard some of the names that were put forward when the transfer window first opened (Pitek, Kalini, Petagna, Zaza, and Farias). However, with Ribry still out and nobody else seeming up to the task in replacing him, a Berardi or Politano would make quite a bit of tactical sense. That said, it wouldnt be Fiorentina if a few holes werent left unfilledespecially considering the price tag on those guys.

Regarding potential midfield and defense reinforcements, only two names have come up since our initial rumor rundown: Franck Kessi and Juan Jesus, the latter of which we recently published a write-up on here. Kessi would be quite a coup; his reputation in Milan has been on quite a roller-coaster for the past couple of years, but his talent has been more than proven in the league. Like Politano though, Milan will likely charge an arm and a leg for the dynamic midfielder, even though hes found himself relatively out of Stefano Piolis favor as of late.

I dont think Im alone when I say that wed like to see a few higher-profile transfers as opposed to a cabal of journeymen, but were far more used to the second option. Names like Berardi, Politano, and Kessi have always been associated with Fiorentina, but finances have consistently kept them just out of reach. However, Rocco has some deep pockets and an obvious disdain for losing, so well see if that translates into some big moves this Winter. Our fingers are crossed.

Its no secret that Fiorentina has a surplus of players. Some have been pushing for a departure for quite some time, while others seem to be clinging on like leeches (yes, Im looking at you, Cyril). Thankfully, theres no time like January for a little Spring Winter cleaning.

Unfortunately, our first big piece of news regards a player who is the polar opposite of dead weight. In a recent interview, Rocco Commisso publicly gave Federico Chiesa the green light to depart Fiorentina, so long as theres a reasonable offer on the table. This is unlikely to happen in the Winter, especially given the collapse this team would inevitably have following the loss of their best player, but this news is heartbreaking nonetheless. Commisso also had some choice words about wanting leaders on this team, implying that Freddy Church will never join the ranks of Antognoni and company. Wed best appreciate the rest of this season, as Federico doesnt sound like hell be a part of the next one.

Typical Fiorentina heartbreak aside, some additional funds should be coming in over the next couple weeks. Sebastin Cristforo is reportedly close to signing for La Liga sweethearts Eibar, Jacob Rasmussen is on the verge of departure to a German second-division team before weve even seen signs of his existence, and SPAL is ready to finalize Bryan Dabo as a replacement for Jasmin Kurtiand thats without mentioning the ongoing discussions following Pedros six-month vacation in Florence. None of these are blockbuster moves, but hopefully theyll help fund one in our favor.

Theres still a couple players wed like to see offloaded (Valentin Eysseric and Cyril Thrau), but theres a clear desire to clean up the roster a bit. Riccardo Saponara also seems to be cutting his loan short at Genoa in favor of joining Lecce, but theres no indication that this will make any difference to Fiorentinas operating budget.

Well give you all a couple more updates as this transfer window proceeds, but in the meantimewhat are your thoughts? Do you expect us to make another splash in the market, or just a few quiet pieces of business? Or, are you in too much agony with this team to even bother thinking about it anymore? Dont worry, we understand.

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Transfer window update: so whats the plan here? - Viola Nation