Caffeine Free

I have a love-hate relationship with caffeine. I mentioned it yesterday but thought it deserved more attention today.

In my family, caffeine and especially sodas of different types are almost revered. I started drinking them as a young child. My lunch during high school was a Dr. Pepper and two Reese's cups. Healthy, I know. I loved Dr. Pepper. In fact, it was also in high school that I began my addiction to Sonic. My friends and I went to Sonic almost everyday and I had a favorite drink: a Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Even saying that today makes my mouth go dry as I think of all the sugary goodness it contains. Back in those days, I used to drink a medium which could be obtained for a mere $1.07. Imagine the deal!

But college came along and things got tougher and then I started working for the church, and staying up late at night finishing homework and papers and frankly, I just needed more caffeine. So I graduated to at least one, usually two, Route 44 Cherry Vanilla DPs everyday. Let me tell you, that is some serious caffeine and sugar. It was also around this time that I started to develop some pretty serious headaches which I figured out were probably a result of the enormous amounts of caffeine I was ingesting daily. But that did not hinder my love for the drink.

Sure, there were times that I went without the Sonic drinks or Dr. Peppers. Like when I was in Australia or Vienna. I mean, you have to do what you to do. But then, came the kicker. It was the summer of 2003, I was in graduate school had been suffering from migraines for a couple of years and was heading to Honduras for the summer. I knew I was going to have to give up Dr. Pepper. So I made the ultimate switch: DIET COKE. It was huge.

But I survived. And started a new relationship which quite honestly was almost as fulfilling as the first one. I am here to tell you that I have not had a Dr. Pepper since 2003. But when I came back from Honduras I decided it was time once and for all to stop the madness and give it up. Give up the caffeine. And so, eventually I did. Right in the middle of graduate school and internships and searching for a job and all of that, I just quit. Oh, it was hard but I did it.

I will admit, it has been hard. I have relapsed. Like when we went to Europe for the Olympics, I just couldn't help myself. Or recently, when Sonic came out with this happy hour. That has been hard for me. I love some good Diet Coke from Sonic. Or really anywhere else for that matter. But two weeks ago, I made the commitment again, NO MORE CAFFEINE and I have struggled through it.

I love the feeling of being free of stuff I feel like I have to have. Why give up caffeine? Well, lots of reasons I guess. I feel better when I don't drink cokes. Plus, I always have the comfort of knowing if I get stranded on a deserted island I won't be worried about where my Diet Coke is going to come from. But mostly, it is just that feeling of knowing that I am not depending on something to get me through the day. I hate that feeling. But I still love Sonic.