Once I stopped drinking I finally was able to meet the real me. I found it to be a very slow process and it still continues.
While I was on the booze the real me was hidden. This is what drink in quantities does; it enables one to hide. In fact it makes it very easy to hide from oneself. Hiding from oneself means not facing weaknesses, perceived defects, doing what needs to de done, making decisions or facing the consequences of poor decisions. In short, call it not facing life full on.
I'm not saying that people who don't drink are facing life, and are not hiding from themselves. All do that one way or another. It is just that booze makes it so easy. I think the person I met when I finally started to get to know myself, I really liked! It is sad that I hid for so many years. Serious drinking is hiding from yourself, and hiding yourself from others.