Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wine therapy

I went to see my wine therapist--er, I mean, my wine guy the other day.  I gotta recommend him, he's never let me down.  He always seems to have some good suggestions and has really helped me to think about wine in a different way.  He's confronted me on some of my thinking distortions about wine, about how I jump to conclusions based on what the label looks like, about how I'm ready to settle for something less than I deserve rather than holding out for the wine that's really right for me.

My wine guy encourages me to be honest with myself about what I want in a wine.  Since I've been visiting him for regular sessions, I can see a real change in my approach toward wine.  I feel like he's changed my mind about taking risks with new wines I haven't had the courage to try before, and taught me not to be so fearful when making decisions about wine on my own.  Now I listen to my inner voice when it says, "It's time for a great glass of wine."  He's taught me to trust the natural skills I have and build new ones.  I think he's really helping me to be more confident about wine.  I think he could help you too.

I know some of you would say that wine therapy just isn't for you, and that you can work out your problems with wine on your own, or with the help of your friends and family.  Or you might say that you're afraid to change your mind about wine, afraid you'll be disappointed again once you extend yourself--afraid of the unknown and confused by all the jargon.  I used to feel like you do, but now there's hope. 

Go on, take that first step.  Ask for help.  Don't be afraid to be honest about your secret fears and longings about wine.  The fear that your friends will think you're a wine snob if you bring something to Monday night Bunco other than that sweet red.  Or the paralyzing anxiety that you'll be discovered drinking white Zindfandel locked in your bathroom late at night while your family thinks you're just taking a bath.  Or the crippling trauma of not knowing the difference between a pinot noir and a pinot gris, a Prosecco from a port.  I'm sure you'll find that your wine guy, when you find the right one, will be kind, patient, accepting, understanding and non-judgmental.  And isn't that we all just really want?  A healing, corrective experience with wine?  A better quality of life with better quality wine?

Think of how much better you'll feel and how much easier it will be to live with yourself.  Wine therapy has changed my life.  And it can change yours too.  Don't waste another minute.  Do it today!

2 comments:

  1. Wow. And all this time I thought I was just helping you pair a good wine with your great food, and introducing you to some vinous friends you never knew you had!

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  2. Hmmmmmm.... methinks the lady might be spending a little too much time in therapy... hah! ;-)

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