It struck me recently, with so many people taking part in Dry January or Veganuary, that it’s almost as if society is wanting to create a secular Lent.
The idea of cutting back and detoxing after the festivities is clearly very appealing. And yet people also struggle with keeping all their shiny New Year Resolutions…
A strict Lent was cutting out meat and dairy and eggs, which – given that it takes place in the early spring – was originally a way of allowing the cows and sheep and chickens to nurture their young.
The cows needed their milk to feed their new-born calves. The sheep or goats needed their milk to feed their lambs or kids. The chickens needed to sit on their eggs. So it made perfect sense to combine the practical need for good husbandry with the spiritual need to simplify. Hence the need to use up milk and eggs by Shrove Tuesday with making pancakes!
Even people who don’t go to church still like the idea of “giving up something for Lent“ – which this year starts on the 26th February. I have an idea around running a 21 day progressive detox challenge to co-incide with that.
Our diet can play a big role in our hormone levels and the comfort of our bodies, and this will be a great way to find out what YOUR food triggers are, which foods add to your stress levels, your aches and pains, or your bloated belly.
21 days means that it will be over before Mothering Sunday! Watch this space for more information 😊
And if by the end of the 21 days you want to keep going for the whole of Lent – which is what I shall aim to do – that’s fine too.
Did you make any new year resolutions – and how are they??
Image by RitaE from Pixabay