Absolutely. As someone with a traditional Ulster Presbyterian upbringing, I was brought up to feel guilty for daring to have fun. Life is supposed to be all about work, work work according to my family. All to earn money that you can't spend because it would be an extravagance!!!
It's taken a lot of effort to lose that attitude but **** it, I intend to enjoy myself. My brother likes to look down his nose at me and tell me how useless I am and he has better car, more money, etc. But I have friends, a social life, hobbies and get proper enjoyment from my life now that I have gradually been able to change my viewpoint. I used to dread every day, now I look forward to each new day.
And I've found my diet has got better without even trying as I don't usually comfort eat rubbish and although I do occasionally still feel like smoking or drinking if I'm with others who do so, I never actually feel genuinely tempted to do so as I know it would make me feel worse, not better. Occasionally I may have perhaps 1 or 2 pints of Magners cider simply because I like the taste of it, not because I feel the need to get drunk to cope with a social situation like I did in my late teens. I wouldn't be remotely tempted to drink any other alcoholic drink because I don't like the taste of them any more.
