It was seven years ago today that I gave up caffeine cold turkey at the suggestion of friend. I was complaining to him that I had a lot of trouble sleeping and he noted how much soda I drank and thought giving up caffeine would help. I was on the wagon for nearly seven years and finally broke that streak back in November during NaNoWriMo.

I woke up this morning with a very hangover-like headache, which was odd since I was not drinking yesterday. I tried figuring out why I would have such a headache and I realized it was because I wasn’t drinking yesterday. I’d run out to get a Coca Cola in the morning and then hadn’t had any caffeine since, so that nearly 24-hours had passed. Of course, I like to be scientific about these things, so I set up an experiment. When I got into the office I stopped to get my usual Coca Cola. I took a sip, and within 60 seconds, the headache that had been pounding at me since I had awakened was gone.

If I had the will power I like to think I have, I would never have broke my streak in the first place. But having broken it, I have to say that an occasional caffeine headache is a small price to pay for the ability to drink Coca Cola from the fountain again.

Spoken like a true addict.