Morning Friend,
One of the fine old workplace traditions the world over is the “couple of drinks after work”.
After a rough day, a tough week – and especially a “payday”, the call to “go for a brew”, ( or “Miller Time” as the famous old American beer slogan used to trumpet), can be heard like a battle cry from the factory floor all the way to the executive offices of companies large and small.
The after work drinks can be an essential part of the culture of a workplace; an excellent morale building and bond forming exercise.
In the comfy environs of a neighborhood pub or a favorite lounge, with hair down and gloves off, the stress and strain of the “grind” drains further away with each successive glass or bottle.
It’s a chance for all to blow off steam, bitch and whine, tell nasty jokes, commiserate, flirt, laugh, and ultimately....jointly solve a pressing global issue or two; usually toward the end, of the evening.
For some it’s an excuse to get drunk and avoid going home after work, but those poor souls are likely in the bar avoiding home every evening so the novelty of the exercise is lost to them as is the opportunity for spontaneous co-worker interaction.
They’re there for the drinking, irregardless of the company, and often the last to leave...unless they get cut off first.
Thankfully in today’s society, the great majority of people are “social” drinkers - according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, approximately 4% of adult drinkers in
Even with my vivid imagination, I have trouble perceiving what sort of anarchic maelstrom would replace civil society were those figures reversed?
“Joining us for a drink after work Bob?”
“No thanks Tim, I’ve been hammered all day! I could go for a coffee though?”
“Keep that kind of talk to yourself Bob. Coffee? It’s only Wednesday!?....you don’t have some kind of a “problem” do you?”
The carnage – were it to be “Miller Time” all the time - would be substantial.
As it is, the ruination and heartbreak wrought by even such a small percentage of problem drinkers in today’s society is far-reaching enough to have affected the life of just about everybody.
Left my own mark on a fair bit of damage to be sure.
But despite the fact that I now don’t drink, and I managed to salvage my job because of it, I still get that familiar “itch” towards the end of the work week.
Not to drink mind you, but to drink in the fomenting fellowship and charismatic camaraderie of my brothers and sisters with whom I spend a third of my week with; toiling on a daily basis.
We work alongside thousands of others in a large hospital so there is ample stress and an ongoing battle against it.
In my own particular department however, I’d noticed that for various reasons we never “went for a few after work”.
There is a broad demographic of about 50 of us who work “evenings” so the logistics themselves are not what you’d call conducive to such activity.
But just because something is difficult doesn’t make it less necessary, and YES I do think there is value in cultivating friendships with co-workers outside of the workplace, especially in circumstances like mine where the mix of cultures, values and ages is so varied.
So since my charismatic leadership abilities are bruised but yet functional, and since I’m still a “social butterfly” ( albeit a sober one), and since I’d get nothing but funny looks by asking 50 people “out for coffee”, and since statistically only 4% of my department ( me and another guy?) should be alcoholic, I took it upon myself to organize a “Few After Work” for the gang last Friday.
The crudely but enthusiastically drawn poster proclaimed “Friday Fellowship!....Come for a Couple!....
Now in my mind it was a rousing success not because it was a good turnout with laughs aplenty and enough madcap and warm heart to fill 10 beer commercials, but because of who showed up...
- the “old” veteran of the bunch
- the “oddball” guy
- the “quiet” loner
- the “rookie”
- the “hothead”
- people who I’d never seen so relaxed and animated
...and of course the “alcoholic” in the background sipping on a cola; drinking in all the good natured griping, the irreverent humor, the problem solving, the fellowship....and the fun.
But the best part of it all had to be when someone asked me why I’d go to all the trouble to organize such an event when I don’t even drink?
And instead of a mini-diatribe about; discovering the essence and joy of life without booze, giving back to others in payment for years of selfishness, celebrating the freedom of being able to say “no” to a drink, doing the Lord’s work by fostering peace and brotherhood, or bettering our work environment by promoting extra-curricular interaction, I simply said,
...“Cause it’s Miller Time!”
love tImMy:/
Laugh as much as you breathe...
Love as long as you live ( happy hours)
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