Happy New Year Timber Pols!! I hope you all had a bloody nice time over the festive period? I certainly did, I disconnected, blocked annoying customers, and used the drug dealer phone and spent time with my wife and daughter. We did everything together and it was amazing to watch my little girl’s development in that short time, she went back to Nursery this morning a much more confident and chatty little lady!!
I made sure to have a nice time myself; I definitely made merry, I enjoyed some incredible beers with family and friends. My dad and I shared some Belgian beers on Christmas day, my wife and I shared a few bottles of wine, not on one night I must add! I also supped some lovely English ales with my pals!
I slightly over indulged in both food and drink, but that’s what it’s all about… I enjoyed it, and I’m not apologising for it! And now, it’s January, and as usual society tries to force us to feel guilty. The talk of “resetting,” “atoning,” and wiping the slate clean after a few weeks of enjoyment indulgence. Which got me thinking… why are we so quick to punish ourselves for doing exactly what we’re supposed to do over Christmas…. enjoy life?
January is in the top two worst months of the year… (February is also rubbish) so why do they, and I’m not totally sure who they really are? Try to convince us to make it even worse by cutting out booze and meat to take part in Dry January and Veganuary respectively??
“January is dark, cold and miserable, I know, lets stop going to the pub with our mates and enjoying some problem solvers in front of a roaring fire, because we over indulged for a month!”
January is the toughest month for the hospitality industry, and with rising wages, taxes and other costs it’s already hard enough without losing a large chunk of its custom for 31 long miserable booze free days!
Now, I get it, we all want to feel good, hit the ground running with a new year and look after the old rig, but there’s nothing wrong with having things in moderation!
I’m not saying don’t change your ways, definitely try to get fitter, lose a bit of chub if you want or need to, but I’ve never been convinced that total denial is the answer. If you go cold turkey all you’re really doing is counting down the days until you crack. Moderation feels far more natural, enjoy things sensibly, don’t beat yourself up, and you’re far less likely to end up right back where you started.
So no, I won’t be doing Dry January and I don’t think you need to either. Fight the all-or-nothing mindset. Have the things you enjoy, but in moderation. Get outside, be active, try something new, blow the dust off rather than punish yourself for having a good time. And while you’re at it, go and have a pint in your local, have a proper laugh, and help keep the doors open. Life’s about balance, not punishing denial and January doesn’t need to be miserable to be meaningful.
Have one for me!
TM
