This is not a poem. This is not a test.

I am a poet.
I am a photographer.
I am not a drinker.

I love my coffee in the morning,
my tea in the afternoon,
but alcohol is not part of my plan,
it is a rare treat.

I am a husband,
I am a father,
I keep my body fit
and my mind sharp,
I do not waste my time in a haze,
I do not lose the early mornings to pain.

I am intelligent,
I make good, long-term decisions,
I am funny,
and I form strong relationships,
I do not have drinking buddies,
I do not go out on the piss,
I treat my drinks with ceremony, and respect.

I am alive,
I am interested in experiencing the world,
I do not numb myself from it,
I do not romanticize the image of drinking whiskey,
I recognize that cocktails are fun,
I partake only on occasion,
but enjoy making them for others, too.

—

Update: it took till March 2024 to actually commit to this vision of myself.