The power of attraction
When I was 24, I found myself at a cocktail party on an island off the coast of Georgia. Friends had invited me to celebrate a birthday.
There was a guy who caught my attention. His face was alive. He smiled and listened to people. He was interested in others. He was different.
"How come you're not drinking?" I asked.
"Oh... I stopped years ago.”
"Do you go to those meetings?"
"Ya betcha."
He was curious. Funny. I enjoyed speaking with him.
Back then, I believed that being boring was a death sentence. I couldn’t believe a sober person could be so engaging and attractive without alcohol.
He brought out a guitar. Everyone gathered around and joined him in song. Then, he played a piece no one knew the lyrics to.
“So that’s when we hung ol’ Gertrude back on the wall,” he crooned.
The room erupted in cheers and claps. He had spent the day writing a song about an old family portrait our hosts had found in the attic and were excited to hang.
The next morning, I woke up feeling puffy and hung-over. My friends and I walked over to main camp looking for coffee and to see how everyone else was feeling. It was mid-morning and the southern sun was beating down.
We found the musician sitting in a hammock, smiling, and enjoying a bowl of steaming oatmeal.
“You went running in this heat?” I asked.
“Yea! I just did 10 miles,” he said radiantly.
I just couldn’t believe how much energy this guy had.
Little did I know then, that 11 years later I would find that same sobriety, serenity, health, and peace. Now, I don't care if people find me boring. That's their problem, not mine.