Centuries ago, alcohol and taverns served a tragic purpose: they were a coping mechanism for a brutal reality where life was miserable, disease was rampant, and average lifespans were incredibly short. Escaping your mind made sense when reality was a nightmare. Fast forward to 2026. We have families, stable careers, modern medicine, and opportunities to build fulfilling lives. Life is not miserable anymore. Yet, look around. We have cannabis shops popping up on every corner and alcohol sold in every store, restaurant, and commercials dominating every screen. We have deeply normalized getting drunk or high daily to the point where nobody even bats an eye. We work hard to build good lives, only to decide that the ultimate reward at 5 PM is to immediately numb our brains and escape the very reality we worked so hard to create. It is time to stop normalizing daily substance use and start being present for the lives we are actually lucky enough to live.
3 Likes