Sober for NYE

December 31st kind of parts the seas for a lot of people, doesn't it? I know you certainly won't find me drinking at a pub or bar out past 10:30 pm in my adult years. And I don't care. Why waste time doing things I don't enjoy when I can find other activities to do instead of waste mindless cash or make my stomach worse or trigger it by drinking when I know I won't have a fun night or next morning.

In college, I knew quickly I couldn't keep up with most people's average drinking habits - for my pleasure at least. I learned quickly I had to develop a set of skills for when things got tough, socially, so that it wouldn't be awkward for me. These wouldn't have to revolve around food (or eating it immediately) which was important to me.

Here are some fun activities you might find interesting or perhaps take a twist off the idea & let us know what you did differently or do during your downtimes.

Finding enjoyment in other activities/ideas for other entertainment:

• Axe throwing
• Sledding downhill
• Making snowman cookies - and having others judge them & have there be a winner. Have a tally to add up all of the votes & give an unusual, funny, or whacky prize.
• Homebake some snacks you can pop into the freezer or pack them up for your neighbors.
• Candle making - This hobby can really take up some of your time!
• Plant Swap Garden Party - This is a fun one. Have friends that garden or collect plants? Have a terrarium, cactus or plant swap! Have each person bring the things needed like sand, gravel, rock, rooting powder, planters, etc. This could be an activity that will fill a whole night for you.
• Not into plants? Turn your planter into a Zen Garden where you can mini-rake the sand and put in some specially painted rocks when you're done.

Focus on things that you can do, rather than what you can't

It's not always easy navigating your ways throughout the holidays with inflammatory bowel disease. It can take way more from you than you have to give. These ideas mentioned are ones that I can quickly go to when I need to "get away" from it all and have some time to myself, or perhaps with some friends.

I've learned that it's also only the opinion of others that I shouldn't consider. I need to give myself a bit more leniency because I'm not able to do everything everyone else is without Crohn's disease. I'm not always able to indulge in the way that I would like to or eat all of the things I'd like to eat.... and I definitely cannot drink or indulge the way I thought I might be able to as an adult. You win some - you lose some. Except with new lists of exciting endeavors, I don't have to worry about the things I can't do. I'm just trying to focus on the things I can do.

What holiday or alternative activities do you like to do?