"Wordle is the sourdough starter of Omicron" (Emily Coleman via Twitter).
Similarly to this meme that shows the unpredictability of our times, I would have never thought that one day, I'd be one of those "Dry January people". How we laughed at our high school teacher who gave up wine for lent! How I've shrugged at acquaintances that didn't drink in my twenties, making snug remarks. Yet here I was 30 days ago, giving up something that has become... customary. Why, many friends asked. To see if I can do it, I answered. I don't believe in cleanses, "resetting mindsets", "fresh starts" - unless you are a criminal.  |
| Jean Beraud, The Drinkers, 1908 |
But I just decided that rethinking habits would be a great exercise. And a friend of mine asked me if we should do it together. I didn't expect any mind altering revelations and they didn't come. Another friend asked whether we (my husband silently joined in too) felt any healthier. I said, the opposite - when we drink wine for dinner, our dinners are more elaborate (seafood, vegetables, steak, pasta dishes); without it and with sparkling water or alcohol-free beer, we craved easier, more American, less healthy meals (like burgers or nachos). So no, we are not the "epitome of health" now, but it felt good to see that alcohol is a commodity that can be forgotten or substituted.
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| Edgar Degas, L'Absinthe, 1876 |
(This is of course my personal experience, I enjoy alcohol in company and like its taste, there is no dependency in my immediate family and alcohol is not used as a mental crutch by us. I'm not an expert in the field and recommend to speak with one if you think that drinking has become indispensable for you or anyone close to you).
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| Alcoholfree Aperol Spritz |
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| Non-alcoholic beer we like best |
To not drink champagne and wine and to still enjoy the longest month of the year, one had to find substitutes for drinking rituals like our beloved aperitif that we started to do regularly during the pandemic. I remembered from my pregnancy that the only thing I struggled with at restaurants was the lack of good non-alcoholic drinks. But since we didn't go out to eat, we experimented at home. The best alcoholfree pre-dinner drink in the world, in my very humble opinion - the Martini zero - is unfortunately not available in the States. But we found an Aperol substitute and a great bubbly so we could make our Spritzes. And after dinner? (not that I drink so much port or dessert wine, but sometimes it's nice with cheese). The good old hot tea with candy or a hot chocolate with cookies. I told you this isn't a health journey :) Here are some products we loved tasting and using:
I enjoyed this little exercise so much I decided to dedicate every month of 2022 to some little task. But no more giving up. Just trying new or repeating nice things. A month of long walks with my dog every day when the weather is nicer. A month of trying out meditation. A month of drawing every night. A month where I read 4 books I always put away and watch 4 movie classics I never got the chance to watch, etc. Have you tried something similar? Is this the subconscious trying to bring some order into this current chaos? I'm not sure. But I think it's a worthy cause.
Have you ever given up alcohol, chocolate, meat etc.? What are your takeaways?
Talk to you soon,
J.
PS: This post contains affiliate links.
PSS: the first two pictures are from WikiCommons.
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