I’m a sucker for a good drink. I love a nice smooth bourbon or a soothing hot tea. I am a beer geek and a home brewer. There’s just something about a drink that eases the mind and makes the body feel whole.

I like to drink. I’m not an abuser. I’m not hooked on coffee or whisky (in fact, I really can’t stand coffee). Whether sitting in my big comfortable chair at home relaxing with the lady, or celebrating my hard earned triumph of a mountain peak, I’ll always savor some kind of drink.

Water, of course, is the ultimate drink. It keeps us alive, replenishes our souls, and makes us feel real. Filter water through the leaves of the tea plant, and you have a drink that soothes and comforts. Add some herbs to the right tea, maybe a bit of sweetener (honey is my favorite), and you have an energizer, a mind sharpener.

Even the boozer drinks can rejuvenate our minds and bodies. For, without rest, our bodies rebel. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it dulls our senses and reduces excitability; it allows us to find a small bit of peace. It’s easy to fall in love with that dull feeling, which is why so many can abuse it so easily. But for the rest of us, an aged scotch, a smooth bourbon, or a finely crafted beer can elevate our appreciation of life.

The neighborhood pub, the college party, even the intimate gathering at home are all fueled by drinks. In the summer, we drink together to cool heads; in winter, we drink to warm our hearts. Drinks can bring us together as people, sharing in the triumphs and defeats of life, finding a commonality among us.

There’s little in life so good as what a drink can give to us.