I never thought that what I don’t drink could make me awkward. Unfortunately, I don’t like coffee, pop (soda/coke), or alcohol, the three fundamental beverages of society.
One can’t make it far through life without hearing about coffee. Adults always go out for coffee. Acquaintances introduce themselves over coffee. It’s a casual, friendly, and simple way to get to know someone. Whether it’s co-workers going out to grab a cup, or you’re making a cup for your boss, you’ll definitely run into many coffee situations in this world! Coffeehouses and cafes are nice places to meet up and exchange ideas. People go to Starbucks and order their fancy frappamochalattechino.
Have you ever had to make a coffee drink for someone when you have no idea what kind of drink they’re talking about?? There’s iced coffee and cold brews. They add sugar/creamer/milk/flavoring/what have you. I don’t get it. I usually resort to asking a coffee-drinking friend for help, and hope that it tastes okay while silently telling myself how much it would help if I could work at a coffeehouse for a while. In my opinion, coffee-drinkers have a leg up in this world! I do enjoy the smell of coffee though, does that count?
I also don’t care for tea. So many different kinds of teas exist, which to me just taste like lightly flavored hot water. I don’t really care to drink hot water. It’s just water, that’s hot. Maybe if you’re sick I could see this being a good thing. The first time I had to make someone an iced tea, I was so lost. I was baffled that you’d boil the water, add the tea, and then make it cold again. I added ice cubes which melted because the water was hot, leaving it more of a watered-down, room temperature drink, and I had no idea if that’s what they’d been wanting. It seemed strange to me.
Drinking pop (soda/coke) is also not my thing. No energy drinks either. Are those actually healthy? When I was a child it was hard to find something to drink at school pizza parties and friends’ birthday parties because they usually had two-liters of pop, and I didn’t like any carbonated beverage. I wouldn’t drink anything, and I’d be very thirsty until I became brave enough to ask to go to the water fountain to fill up my cup with water. Sometimes I’d be saved by Hawaiian Punch or Minute Maid Lemonade. Any fast food place that has lemonade in their soft drink dispenser instantly gets an extra plus from me because that’s what I always treat myself to if I’m out.
As far as alcohol goes, I don’t fully understand it. I don’t like alcohol, but I wish I did. I’ve tried to like it on multiple occasions, but most of the time it’s me trying to pretend. It’s one of those things that was never a part of my life, and I never thought about it until college. When I saw people drinking alcohol like it was no big deal, I was horrified. What were they doing?! Didn’t they know that it was a bad thing to do?? I felt uncomfortable when I saw adults drinking around their children of various ages and no one seemed worried. I came to realize that this seemed to be a more “normal” way of life than the way I was raised, where you’d get disgusted looks for even mentioning that you tried it. It’s the norm for people to “go out for drinks”, and parties usually include drinking. You’d feel ostracized because there would ALWAYS be a conversation at every party about what people were drinking, had drunk, or liked/disliked to drink, in which I had nothing to contribute. People would go out on weekends and socialize – and they’d drink while doing it.
Why is this a thing?? People ask me, why aren’t you drinking? And usually there are a variety of explanations, usually I’m just not thirsty. I’m sitting here. I’m fine. I’m just not thirsty. Plus is tastes awful. “This tastes almost exactly like an apple!” someone would exclaim. I try it, and to me, it does not. Why not just eat an apple if you want an apple?? “You can’t even taste the alcohol in this, try it!” I try it. I can taste it. Ugh. I look around at parties at all the people happily drinking and wonder why can’t I be like everyone else?? Why can’t I fit in? Why can’t I be that classy lady drinking a glass of wine, or the woman who guys admire for downing shots of whiskey? I still struggle with this, often waiting until I have to, to tell people that I don’t drink, wanting to feel like I’m part of the group for as long as possible before the truth comes out, or I’m faced with a glass of something I really don’t want to drink.
Once, when attending a social event taking place at a bar, I grabbed a can of some sort of beer I saw most people walking around with, and carried it around, sipping occasionally. I talked to enough people that no one knew I had the same drink in my hand the entire time. I had a conversation with someone who looked down at my drink and said, “Oh, I’m sorry! We’re talking too much, I’m not letting you drink!” (Haha, that is not the case, but I’m glad you think so). So I excused myself to the bathroom and dumped half of the thing down the sink so people would think I’d consumed most of it. This is what I resort to?
If you don’t drink coffee or tea, you might feel out of place. Same for pop or alcohol. But all three?? How to you expect this girl to survive socially in a society of social drinkers?? I can order hot chocolate at some coffee places. I can order an alcoholic mixed drink at some bars where I can sip on it, pretending to enjoy it, while everyone else has 2 or three drinks, laughing about their ‘once when I was drunk’ stories to which I have none, until the gathering is over and I head out, leaving half the drink still sitting on the table. But if I actually enjoyed these beverages I think I’d have an easier time in the world.
Is there anyone else out there like me?! Do you ever feel the struggle? My advice is, teach your kids the valuable skill of coffee making, and maybe letting them taste an alcoholic beverage or two wouldn’t hurt either.
I am a big coffee drinker, so yes i enjoy socialising in coffee shops :). But i can feel you on alcohol. I stopped drinking alcohol and it is weird. I cant enjoy going out as i did before. Talks get louder, people make stupid jokes, which i soberly cant laugh as hard about. But i like to not loose my senses and the next day much much better then with alcohol :). Meet some sports guys and girls, you will have a lot socialising without coffee and alcohol :)
@steemboys Yees! The whole "being sober at a bar (or anywhere) while your friends are not" is a whole story in itself. Sometimes I can use the excuse that I'm the DD as reason for why I'm not drinking (whether I really am being the DD or not) and give off the vibe to strangers like "Yeah, I have to be the DD, it sucks..." lol when in reality I wouldn't be drinking anyway.. but they don't have to know that! ;p Yeah, maybe I need to join a sport!
It does make you feel ostracized if you don't have these kind of drinks around your friends but its not compulsory to drink an alcohol and you should think of it as positively. I mean it is good for health not to drink and for blending with people around you, you just have to be friendly with them no need to pretend.
@raku I am proud of my health, so I DO like celebrating that fact while I still can! Even when I'm being friendly to people, and they ask why I'm not drinking, I feel this barrier appear between us - because they want me to be drinking with them, want me to be "part of the group", or they feel like I'm not accepting them.. which I AM perfectly fine with them drinking! Heck, I want to like alcohol enough to join you! Just because I'm not drinking, doesn't mean I have a problem with other people drinking, especially my friends - I love them!
I am a Vegan. And I have the exact feelings when I am with a meat 🍖 eating machine (Haha 😂, that's my friend). He always rant about why not just try a mutton pasta? (I gossip with my inner voice and say, let's chill out with Praising him! Just let me know how he feels- pretending to be a non-veg for a while. 🐶
@prabin That's too funny ;p It's like, no one has to know! 0.0 If I happen to be at a bar, or party etc. where people are drinking, but no one knows me, I could carry a cup around and totally pretend to be a drinker every once in a while... who would know? If someone says, "Heeeeey, what are you drinking?" I can simply say what's in my cup (what I'm APPEARING to be drinking). I guess I'd have an easier time pretending to be a drinker than you would pretending to be a non-vegan for a while, though!
I love my Iced Coffee black and as for alcohol, its all disgusting but people drink just to loosen up for conversation lol
@stackin If I had to choose one drink I'd have to drink, coffee or alcohol, yeah I'd probably choose coffee. I already like the smell of coffee, plus there's the whole alcoholic thing... although I doubt my stringent taste buds would allow that for me (which is awfully nice of them). :o
I dont like coffee and alcohol. I am from germany, near munich where consuming alcohol is so normal you would be mindfuked... i dont like to poisn my body and i usually talk bad about people that use alcohol so you can imagine how social it gets. I can just recommend to you to search for people that dont like that stuff either, dont try to force yourself to people not on your wavelenght.
@canis7lupus Whoah, that would be hard! A lot of what I hear about Germany is about German beers or German festivals where they drink... (beer and sausage and sauerkraut?) living in Germany without drinking sounds like it would seem a little ostracizing. Yeah, I'm looking for those people who still like being active and going out to DO things, just not going out to or sitting around in bars!
Interesting observation. I'm following you for sure.
Your experience is quite unique. A friend of mine for example, is allergic to Fruits. Yes, Fruits!!! He doesn't eat ANY fruit. Not even Orange or Mango. Could you imagine? Now think how awkward his life would be around ordinary humans or when passing by a fruit shop. But I get you. Alcohol is totally understandable. But once in a while wouldn't hurt, correct! Coffee is a great catalyst when it comes to socializing. Or tea too for that matter.
Thanks for the share.
Thanks @beingnaveed! I AM thankful that I'm not allergic to these things... I humanly could consume them without repercussions (except the usual drunken ones) if I had the desire, the desire just isn't present for me lol Being allergic to fruit would be hard! Especially since people try to persuade people to "eat more fruit!" to be healthier, and they might just assume your friend doesn't want to be healthy, or is being lazy, when in reality - he's allergic! Back off people! I actually have met one or two people who are allergic to wheat-y beers or something in beers.
I understand where you're coming from :)
And the desire I believe is that's not external. For something to be a desire, it has to be internal and you are one lucky person to have it not even present lol.
Congratulations @theawkwardcat! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPWater is the best. Nice, well written post.
Thanks @geekgirl! I do love water! Luckily, not drinking these other things does help increase my daily intake of water, so that's a perk.
Just so you know, at least two people tried to copy your work and post it as their own. I flagged them for plagiarism.
Tastes change as you age, I never really liked coffee until 3 years ago.
So what do you drink a lot of? Water, yes.. Milk? Juice?
@dirtyburger Yes, I drink water usually. If I'm out at a fastfood restaurant and they have Minute Maid lemonade in their drink dispenser, then I get that. If not, usually water. I love milk and I always used to drink a ton of milk... milk with cereal, milk with anything chocolate, milk with peanut butter bread, milk with toast, etc. Now I'm trying to cut down on the milk and drink more water. And yes, I love juice too! So there are my sugary drinks for you :p
Oooo smoothies are always good too, and milkshakes!
Beautiful girl , with beautiful thoughts. Love you ... thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
@kingjan Thank you! Thanks for "shedding light" to my post! (Not that I think it was a dark place! o.0)
lol , you are amazing
Nice written
I really so impressed
@ahmadrox Thank you!
I like some coffe and tea too
Nice posting sister
I like it
I invite you now
Thank you! I see you guys are getting your socializing/work done at some sort of café or restaurant!
Some years ago, for health reasons, I took a break from drinking any alcohol. However, at this time, my work friends loved to drink. Some of them too much. Heading off to a bar was just the common way to socialise after work. Then all of the questions would start, why aren't I drinking something alcoholic. This was obvious because there was the habit of people taking turns to buy the drinks. So my not drinking and health often became a topic. So I understand where you are coming from. It becomes tiring having to justify a choice or requirement.
Solution? Grow a tougher skin and not concern yourself with other peoples' concerns about your preferences or needs with fluid intakes.
Non participation is a very interesting social exercise, especially with intoxicants of any sort. Peoples' behaviour changes and yourself more or less remains as is and you observe the shifts in conversation and behaviour. You start to feel like an anthropologist.
Yes, being familiar with the rituals of the cultural you are engaged in are important, if you want to interact with people. If those rituals include coffee, tea, alcohol, whatever, knowing how to prepare these things be an added social lubricant.
@leoplaw You're right, it is interesting to observe the experience without participating. Luckily, the more my friends drink, the less they care that I'm not drinking (as far as "Here, try this!", "Try that!", "Are you suure you don't want such-n-such?", "You don't like it??") because they're having way too much fun!
Yes, your friends after a point have more important things to do. Who's buying the next round? ;-)
I HATED ALCOHOL LIKE YOU DID, but i devised another way of taking alcohol by mixing it with yogurt or milk to me it reduces the alcoholic content ,you can try it to see for your self ,it changes the taste
@chidiebereegbo Whoah I've actually never heard of mixing alcohol with yogurt or milk before! (besides the drinks that include cream/milk) Hmm Not sure how that would taste o.0
IT SOUNDS WEIRD BUT I DO IT
👍👍👍
Look at your post doing SO well!! Yay!! I am so excited for you babe!!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks @princessmewmew! Your name makes me laugh every time I read it :D lol
Hehe, glad I can make you laugh! How is your Steemit journey going?!
@princessmewmew It's a learning process, that's for sure! I've read a lot about it, but my mind still doesn't fully comprehend it. I'm trying to post more often, and not just once a week!
That's great babe! Do you have discord? If so, find me, and if you have questions you can ask me there! I'm happy to help!
Cool thanks! I don't have discord, but I just Googled it.. interesting! Learning new things every day :p
It's similar to whatsapp. You can get it on your phone or on your computer, and it's GREAT!
Let me know if you need assistance setting it ip💓
well health wise, the only thing good for you is water, so why not! great article :)
Yes, luckily health wise I am set on beverage intake. Although, even though I substitute water for the:
1 cup of coffee in the morning
1 coke for lunch
1 cup of coffee in the afternoon
maybe 1 water for dinner?
then 2 alcoholic drinks on a night out
ALL with water... I still don't feel like I drink the suggested amount of water in a day. I don't usually drink something unless I'm eating! Hmm.
@magicmonk
Oh really? Hmm I guess everyone is different. I drink warm water most of the time which people find weird lol.
My wife doesn't drink coffee, tea, alcohol, and a lot of other drinks too. So I get where you're coming from. Don't feel awkward though. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round.
@dexstaples Thank you! That actually is a great way to look at it :) Drinkers and non-drinkers alike!
Wow. Beautiful. I have need of coffee right now. Lol. Nice one @theawkwardcat
Haha :p @harrywill Coffee coffee coffee! You can have mine too!
Hahaha. Keep it coming
I drink coffee like its water but Im not much of a drinker. I cant tell you how many times I have heard the words "come on, just loosen up and some fun" Im 35, peer pressure has zero effect on me. Its not because I dont like the taste of alcohol, I enjoy a glass of fruity wine now and then but I grew up surrounded by alcoholics and being that I am now a mother, I wont do that to my kid. I hate being drunk, I dont like getting the spins or throwing up and I HATE most of all, not being in control. Dont ever feel like you need to explain yourself. You owe no one, nothing.
@inkdncurvy Thank you!
Yes, I've had people comment to me, "Don't be so uptight!" or "You need to loosen up!" or "What's your problem?" in which I'd like to respond, "Excuse me?! I don't have a problem! Back off, please and thank you!" Sorry I don't want to join in on your party boy behavior, sorry you feel offended! (not sorry)
You sound like a very responsible and smart person! I love that you care about your child and are doing the wonderful things that mothers should be doing (in my opinion)! I hope this isn't too out of place to say, but I've run into too many people who I believe shouldn't be parents because of their nasty behavior in front of their kids. At that point, it's not the kids causing the problem, it's the parents!
Absolutely agree! The problem i find is that too many people who dont actually care to be parents are having kids simply because abortion or adoption would just be too tough... so they carry on their merry way as if they dont have kids. Its a shame really
If and when I do drink, its one or two and thats it. On the very rare occasion that I decide to have more I will stop when i get a slight buzz
The parenting: It's true! Sadly.
Having a drink: Sounds like you're being smart about it and you know your limits! Everybody should at least know their limits. Whether they go past them is their own business lol
100%
I also do not drink alcohol at all!
I do not like.
I do not understand the taste of tea ....
But I like coffee.
Without sugar, milk and other ...
@saxana One. Of. Us.! Just because we don't drink doesn't me we still can't have fun!
I've heard the term social lubricant used to describe coffee and alcohol and I would throw pop/soda in there as well. The advice about kids learning how to coffee and tasting alcohol is great because it falls into being a good host and a good guest. If I'm expecting someone that only drinks water I want to make sure that I have something to offer them something better than tap water.
@freemarketkev Yeah, don't be one of those hosts with just alcohol/mixers, 2-liters of soda, and nothing else!
Also, not sure if you meant to write this but, "kids learning how to coffee" made me laugh - haha
Congratulations @theawkwardcat! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPNice
I love it
Thanks @shamsmairmade !
Good post! I'm going to follow you to see more post like this and for support us!
Thanks for the support @peterehab ! I definitely will be posting more!
Interesting yet weird! But then again I know some people who don't care about music at all. I mean, not reading books - well, that's common, but not having a favorite artist. That's event weirder than not drinking those supercalifragilisticexpialidocious mochalattes.