We do need labels — on some things. For example, the label on a bottle of wine will tell you how much alcohol it contains — around 13.5% on average — or on a hard liquor bottle — around 40% on average. They are useful labels. If you’re getting ready for a night of boozing, they’ll give you an idea of just how much damage you’re getting ready to inflict upon yourself — on your heart, your liver, your brain, etc.
Other labels aren’t so useful. For example, some use the label “recovering alcoholic” to describe themselves or others. I choose not to. To me, the label “recovering” puts you in a position of weakness. It implies that there is something wrong with you, that you are sick, that you might be healthy some time in the future, but in no way should you consider yourself healthy right now.
Personally, I don’t care for the idea of having to go through life believing that there’s something wrong with me, and I don’t care what labels others might want to tag me with either — that’s up to them.
Here’s how I see it: drinking makes me feel bad, not drinking makes me feel good. I have chosen to not drink, because I like feeling good. If anything, I might say that I was “recovered,” but I don’t need that either. I’m not drinking, I feel much better for it, end of story. It’s that simple. No labels necessary.
Interestingly enough, here’s a link to an article that describes the problems with identifying with either label, recovering or recovered.
In my book, if you choose to kick the booze, you will go from being a person who used to drink, to being a person who doesn’t drink — and a happier, healthier, wealthier one at that.
KTB
Kick the Booze 