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When my children were small, there were times when I or Mrs SR would get scolded by random strangers for letting them have dummies. The thing is, I was always sympathetic to the children, because you see these little critters exit violently from the comfort of a warm womb, enter a cold brutal place of stainless steel and starched cotton, only to be told they are not allowed any creature comforts.
Anyway, it favourably disposed me toward the following flowchart:
umbilicus -> dummy -> cigarettes -> whisky -> coffin
But science has told us that we shouldn't smoke anymore, and whisky is no longer allowed in the office. What are we supposed to do?
I just came out of a meeting where the discussion turned to the terminal illness of a former colleague, and everything became quite morbid. Consequently, I couldn't help but think to myself, 'everyone here could do with a drink or something'. If we were on the set of 'Mad Men', of course, both drink and tobacco would have been expected, but nowadays not so much.
So, do you have a 'dummy' of sorts? Aside from avoiding existential angst altogether, what do you do to soothe yourself in the face of life's darker questions?
Make snarky, sarcastic jokes at the expense of random strangers on t'internet.
bikes.
Ebay.
and booze. and biscuits.
bikes
Yeah, me too. I was thinking more about over the course of a day, or on those moody evenings, when we can't get out to engage in physical activity.
Unless you happen to be a Deliveroo person.
Cycling, seriously.
I'm a junkie, always have been. Be that computer games (quit), cigarettes (quit), drugs (quit) or booze (currently replaced with a turbo trainer and zwift).
Life was a bit easier when i was still on the ecig
Bacon and porn.
Baconporn
Baconporn
Dave?? Is that you???
How have things been since you quit politics?
I’m a junkie, always have been.
My name's Rob and I'm a junkie.
Video games, check (stole monies to feed the habit/machines in the arcades. Gave away multiple consoles cos I couldn't stop playing them, then got another, reapeated this for years, then quit. Haven't touched one for over a decade)
Cigs, check (quit 12 years ago and for some reason started again in Jan?? When 2 month "health kick" ends I'll pack it in)
Eating disorder, check (no less habit forming than anything else here, when 2 month health kick ends I *hope* to **** this doesn't start again)
Drugs, check (many & lots)
Pron, check (think I'm over that)
Sex, check (it comes & goes 
)
Binge drinking, check (not getting smashed every Friday night - getting smashed every night for weeks. Had a slide down that slippery-slope last year which lasted 9 weeks. I felt terrible and only sorted it out when the hangovers got so bad I couldn't get to training. I was already missing work due to feeling gopping, but that didn't bother me)
Riding, check (fully obsessed for 12 years, now that's worn off a lot & been replaced I don't ride much, but I love to get my fix)
Martial arts,check (train every day, can't stop).
I daydream. Often about riding or being out in the mountains or wilderness.
Crap lager on bad weather days. MTB on good weather days.
Hugs from my dogs. Better than anything else I've tried..!
Running or a walk somewhere nice.(getting harder to find)
Binners
An oboe reed or red wine.
Loud music. Loud metal/punk/hardcore/screamy music. I hate everyone and everything seems stupid to me, the aforementioned melodies make it a little easier to deal with.
A Tele or a Strat.
Music (loud, distorted and shouty, preferably) and exercise, I guess. I don't really do creature comforts, which is perhaps where I've been going wrong, although more recently I've been eating a fair bit, and drinking more alcohol, so maybe that is becoming it.
I'm open to suggestions, although I'm a bit past coke and hookers.
SaxonRider
umbilicus -> dummy -> cigarettes -> whisky -> coffin
But science has told us that we shouldn’t smoke anymore, and whisky is no longer allowed in the office. What are we supposed to do?
Put off the coffin bit for another 2 decades?
I’m open to suggestions,
From what people tell me boxing or martial arts etc. training could be good. I'm not sure why I haven't tried it to be honest.
Aggro music + excercise = moshing, shirley? I flipping love a mosh pit! There's little that makes me feel better than going flat out in the pit or on a DH trail.
My black lab. She's with me most of the time. A cuddle from her is very calming. Also listening to spoken word stuff gets me through tough or boring times day or night.