In a society so harried and full of stress, is it any wonder some of us give in to our vices? Whether it's sex, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, porn, gambling, shop lifting or something I've left out - do any of us not understand the inclination to give in and let pleasure rule our lives? To forget the rules and what's good for us, to not worry about what others will think, not worry about hurting someone's feelings, to forget our responsibilities - to just give in. Of course we judge people harshly for this, and you risk losing everything, including yourself, if you completely surrender. So many of us don't. Many of us try to indulge in these vices moderately, with restraint, because giving in just a little bit is okay. And giving in not at all, well I suppose that's a life for some people.
For most people drinking socially or moderately, even the occasional drunken stupor is okay. And just about everyone has sex, no one's saying that's wrong, but start screwing everyone you meet and you bet you're going to have a reputation. Cigarettes and drugs, of course they're bad for you. But how many of us have been stoned at least once in our lives? And cigarettes while they cause cancer are still legal if you're over 18. I, personally, have never understood gambling. I can't stand to throw money away, but I know for some people it's a real high. And porn, well I know a lot of women in particular seem to feel that porn tends to be offensive and demeaning, but I've always found it a turn on (not in all cases, some porn is demeaning and offensive). I wouldn't want my husband obsessed with it, mind you, but again in moderation . . . . And food can also be a vice and I can be a stress eater too. But seeing as my mouth is killing me from having my braces tightened and I can barely eat, there will be no stress eating here at this moment.
I'm sure you can see the stress is getting to me lately. And the harder I work, the more stressed out I become, the more my vices show their tempting and evil faces. Like the snake luring Eve with the apple in the Garden of Eden, my vices are calling to me offering sweet release and euphoria. They will make me forget my stress with a blissful nicotine high, a hazy drunken stupor, a mind-blowing orgasm. I will temporarily forget my disastrous house, my busy job, my screaming children, the contractor that's been MIA for three days. Oh, how I want to forget all those things right now. I want to lose myself, forget my name and surrender completely. But I will not.
I will try not to pollute my lungs more than I find absolutely necessary. I will not drink myself into oblivion so I am unable to take care of my kids. I will have lots of sex and indulge in porn only with my husband when the kids are already asleep. And once my life finds its normal rhythm again, I will find my release once again in exercise instead of alcohol and cigarettes. (Notice I didn't say anything about giving up the sex and the porn. And the alcohol, of course I mean drink less not stop altogether.)
My vice is quiet. I love quiet. I would eat it like ice cream if I could.
Posted by: Polly Poppins | July 13, 2007 at 05:22 PM
I don't think I would consider quiet a vice, an indulgence but not so much a vice. I guess that makes your vice a kitten and mine a tiger. It must be all that repression.
Posted by: Diosa | July 13, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Ahhh, porn. I can't lie, I love it.
I know what you mean about life finding its normal rhythm. I hardly remember what that feels like. But, like you, I know it doesn't involve as much alcohol, nicotene or cursing as this one does. lately I feel like if I had the opportunity to lift up a big rug and sweep life underneath it, I'd do it and not look back. I've looked too, there aren't any rugs that big. Smoking and drinking will have to do for now....
Posted by: Liz | July 14, 2007 at 11:28 PM
There's no doubt what my vices are. I'm a stress easter and a drinker. And while I'm working on the eatng, I have no desire to curb the drinking. It's my favorite crutch, and I like it right where it is, where I can reach for it.
Posted by: Bookgirl | July 16, 2007 at 04:26 PM
And seeing that I'm single right now, I'm trying to steer clear of the sex and porn. Batteries get expensive after a while.
Posted by: Bookgirl | July 16, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Oh, Bookgirl, they have the kind that plug into the wall, no batteries necessary. Don't give it up.... it goes so well with drinking.
Posted by: Liz | July 16, 2007 at 05:43 PM