Left Foot King
AFF Newsletter on Substack #9
Welcome to the AFF Newsletter on Substack.
I spent a wonderful afternoon with my son today.
It was one of those afternoons that I know he will remember for a long time. I know I will.
To be honest, we didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.
First, I showed him how to use Microsoft Paint.
He hasn’t really used a computer much in his young life.
But Paint is such a cool, creative little program that I thought he’d enjoy.
And that proved to be the case.
He loved it.
He even created a picture of his favourite character.
Can you guess who it is?
Afterwards, I took him for a little kickabout with the football.
We’ve driven past this pitch a few times but it had never been free. Thankfully today it was.
We had a wonderful time kicking the ball to each other, trying to dribble around each other and taking shots against each other.
It was so much fun.
These are the sorts of times when memories are made.
I was practising taking shots with my left foot, which is definitely my weaker foot, and I was scoring some absolute screamers.
Real top bins stuff.
It led to me saying that I was the “Left Foot King”, which my son found highly amusing and after repeating my left foot antics while saying it a few times, he broke down into a fit of laughter.
It’s something I will not forget for a long time.
When I used to drink, I would forget stuff I had done all of the time.
I was a blackout drinker.
I had some amazing times when I was drinking. I had some awesome experiences with my friends that have bonded us together.
I had some incredible nights out.
Sadly, a lot of them - definitely parts of them - have been lost from my memory banks.
Sometimes it would only take a few drinks before the night became a blur the next day.
However, for all the times I remember being amazing, I can remember lots of times being bad.
I always try to remember both.
I remember the good times for the fun memories I had back in the day. I remember the bad times to remind myself that more often than not, alcohol did the opposite of what it promised.
The ability to create memories and remember them is something that has been an absolute blessing in recovery.
The memories I made with my son today will last in my mind for a while, and I now know that I have the ability to create more.
I’m not going to be too drunk to drive to a little football pitch to have a kickabout.
I’m not going to be shackled to the fridge, downing beer after beer. Or to the cupboard, pouring myself shot after shot.
I’m not going to be down the pub, day after day, or hungover, or MIA.
I’m not going to be so inebriated that I forget what I’ve been doing.
I am sober, clearheaded and present for my son.
I am ready to create these memories with him.
I am the Left Foot King. I am over 5 years free from the shackles of alcohol. And I am the father to a wonderful young boy.
Thank you for reading. Please reply with some memories you’ve recently created with your kids.
Before you go, please check out my short post on fear.
Take care and have a great day,