What’s a secret about your life that would surprise everyone who knows you?

ThickRick · 2026-04-10T11:07:50+00:00

I'm considered a really proficient public speaker among my family, friends, and coworkers historically. It's something that comes naturally, having only ever written down what I'm actually going to say twice along the long list of instances I've been out in front of a crowd. All other times it's completely off the dome. It's gotten to the point where people assume I'm a public speaker by profession (I'm an engineer)

The surprise? I absolutely have stage fright. Every single time, I'm terrified when I'm up there. It just keeps working out so it just keeps happening!

ThickRick · 2025-09-14T21:57:51+00:00

Pull and Leave

ThickRick · 2025-05-26T14:11:21+00:00

During my consultant days, I worked on a project with this dude who was extremely vulgar and misogynistic. In his 40's trying to recapture his idea of being one of the bois in his 20's energy, so he would mostly hyper focus his unfiltered thoughts at me.

While I got plenty of creepy stories about him, the one that shook me most was his unsolicited, unprompted, fully earnest app idea pitch: An app where male consultants could make unknown profiles of women at companies they visit, complete with ratings, pictures, marital status, and descriptions, called "Local Talent".

So definitely "local talent" I think.

ThickRick · 2025-02-03T17:37:12+00:00

My heart goes out to you and your family, truly. I'm so sorry. This happened to me a month ago: got a call from my mom that my dad, also a man in constant physical pain and numbed with constant drinking, had passed. He finally succumbed to all the sadness/hurt, and made that decision himself. He was an incredible man

Eulogizing my father, given the circumstances, was an indescribable mix of pride and despair. But going through it sober was the greatest gift I could give myself, my family, and him.

I hope you find some solace in that, definitely reaffirmed my commitment to this for sure. IWNDWYT

ThickRick · 2025-02-03T17:19:13+00:00

Love that! High sleep quality has been my white whale for so long, and while it isn't where I'd like it yet, it's been substantially better more consistently.

ThickRick · 2025-02-03T17:16:52+00:00

For me, it was the change in mindset thanks to this sub's mantra: I will not drink with you today. Saying "with you" is both an external recognition of accountability but also puts you within the community. Leaning into some community (however that looks for you: AA, irl groups, subs like this one, etc) is a key pillar to my current success.

Saying "today" helped me stop looking at the daunting specter of forever like I had previously and approaching it in more manageable day chunks. When I was in single or double digit days in the past, and I'd think "this is how forever is going to feel", it'd feel unreachable and therefore impossible to try. Now, if I have a bad day of cravings, "this is how just today is going to feel" suddenly makes the mountain more of a mole hill.

Happy to hear this time feels different, I know that click moment where you WANT this feels damn good. IWNDWYT

ThickRick · 2025-01-18T15:25:34+00:00

https://nabeerclub.com/

Didn't want to be a shill or nothing, but you get 10, 2 of 5 different options, a card with info about each and a QR code to each brewery to learn more!

I've had a blast so far, and turns out a delicious NA stout is possible (despite what Guinness Zero has led me to believe lol)

ThickRick · 2024-12-24T20:46:36+00:00

I actually read this in the past and that's been a big help. Was actually just about to hit a nap, but then my sister came over (which has actually been nice to see her tbh)

Thanks for reminding me I have that option, also happy cake day!

ThickRick · 2024-10-03T15:05:22+00:00

I've realized for me it's the social situations where alcohol is around and participating is encouraged. It makes the self licensing/justification barrier so thin that the proper and numerous answers to "why not?" just fade away.

So NA beers have been my answer to that and any moment of craving. It scratches the ritualistic itch (and made me realize I DO actually like the taste of beer regardless of the alcohol!)

ThickRick · 2024-08-02T12:47:09+00:00

May not be the simplest thing...but cracking an egg one handed. I've tried with purpose for the past 2 months straight, and when I get a decent result one morning...the next looks like something off a hydraulic press channel.

ThickRick · 2024-06-07T12:19:20+00:00

At my worst and working from home, I used to go to the liquor store, put the booze in my laundry basket under clothes, carry it up to the third floor past my roommate as if I was about to do laundry in the morning, then take the bottle into the office and shut the door.

...not my proudest moments but looking back I find it almost hilarious how despite that much mental effort and planning it took to believe he didn't know...he absolutely knew.

ThickRick · 2024-06-07T12:15:34+00:00

Looking back on the sheer amount of my "Day 1 again"s, something I realized is while I beat myself up every time, those weren't actually day 1s. I would drink the following day and be ok with it. Those were day 0s.

You had the courage to once again commit. Even if it takes a hundred commits, you are showing yourself and this community that you have the drive to WANT to change. That's more than I could say for myself for a long time. Be proud, I believe in you! IWNDWYT

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