Wow, what a year it's been! I really am looking at (not necessarily forward to) a largely non-alcoholic month of January. Since the term "detox", however, carries annoying bogus-scientific, as well as self-reproaching undertones (I'm not exactly checking into the Betty Ford clinic, you know), I also have great sympathy for the growing "retox"-movement. I think abstinent January will be seen by future cultural historians as a secularised version of lent. That's part of why I like it, the idea that you're free to create your own traditions and yearly cycles. The greater part is of course the beauty of falling in love with wine all over again in February.
detox / retox
Wow, what a year it's been! I really am looking at (not necessarily forward to) a largely non-alcoholic month of January. Since the term "detox", however, carries annoying bogus-scientific, as well as self-reproaching undertones (I'm not exactly checking into the Betty Ford clinic, you know), I also have great sympathy for the growing "retox"-movement. I think abstinent January will be seen by future cultural historians as a secularised version of lent. That's part of why I like it, the idea that you're free to create your own traditions and yearly cycles. The greater part is of course the beauty of falling in love with wine all over again in February.