Back when I was dating I noticed that drinking made me feel smoother but luckily I had a friend recording my attempt on his phone and I saw the look in my eyes... I was absent. I don't know where I was, but I wasn't where I should have been. Alcohol put up blinders so I didn't have to actually experience first-hand what was going on, it was all passive, and I think that's the "courage" people talk about. Our experiences while drunk don't feel as clear and direct, therefore not as scary.

Eventually I gave myself a rule that says, "If I wouldn't do it sober, don't do it while drinking", and that's helped me from making a fool of myself on many occasions, especially when I was dating.

Thanks for this piece.