Prenatal tribalism
“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain.
One month sober.
I’ve never had a particular drink of preference. Growing up in the Winelands, I love a nice red or a gin and tonic works on a hot Boland summer day.
However, my last drink was on the 18th of February, as I decided to do Lent this year and give something up until the 6th of April. Disclaimer: I will not give you any health advice, nor will I quit red wine, possibly ever. When my wife got pregnant last year, I told her perhaps this would also motivate me to live healthier and dial down on the biertje here and biertje there. It was a false alarm. I enjoyed the post-surf cool-down too much this past December.
My sleeping, however, became a bit troubled, and I am typically not a morning person and get irritated fast with too much twitter before daybreak. Knowing I would be a father soon and being an avid Jordan Peterson follower and supporter, the time came to change something.
Yes, calling yourself an entrepreneur with no stable income also plays a role. “Jy wil mos” are the Afrikaans words that come to mind.
Okay, so after a couple of podcasts, some more radical than others, on the effects of alcohol on sleep, I decided to give it a stab.
One month later, I reflect on “fear setting” and the last four weeks of prenatal classes every Tuesday and Thursday 7 pm - 9 pm at “Tannie Mariana Symington,” aka the baby whisperer of Paarl.
As I don’t know anything about raising a child, I told Lindsay we should go. Reluctantly listening to all the compliments and good reviews, I decided to keep an open mind. I can’t remember the last time I was in a class setting. Still, it took me back, and I enjoyed every minute of the wisdom tornado from heartburn, hemorrhoids, nipple cream, what to pack, medical aid kits, postnatal depression, and poop.
Fear setting is a tool to prepare for something you might enjoy too much, page 474 in Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris.
A book I often refer to lives on my desk. Ferris splits his learnings from the best athletes, entertainers, and entrepreneurs into health, wealth, and wisdom.
“Our life is frittered away by detail....Simplify, simplify.... A man is rich in proposition to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” - Henry David Thoreau, Walden.
Quitting the Friday night beer laughs was daunting. I was scared of how it would affect my relationships. Fear setting is an exercise that defines your scares and what steps you can take to repair possible damage if required.
Yesterday I poured a lively crowd some wine at a surprise birthday party and enjoyed my coffee. I had two.
And it’s probably best to be sober while taking notes on the colour and consistency of le poop.
P.S. Thank you, Tannie Mariana
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash