Monday Rant: Ah, the New Year

The chorus is always the same on social media at the turn of each year. You plan on hitting the health club to get back in shape. You got called in for an interview. Hell, you might have even got a new job. You got engaged. The list goes on.

Some of these things are great. Good for you. One even happened for me. You might not know about it if you don't know me personally. That's just because I don't update everyone on social media about every positive aspect of my life. I just feel that some people incessantly go overboard by constantly updating us on every aspect of that wonderful thing they're doing for the new year.

One of those things that is abound throughout the beer blogosphere this week is what we sometimes call "Dry or Sober January." I recall writing about it in some fashion at the start of 2013 when I first heard of it. A post this weekend by Alan at A Good Beer Blog kind of inspired today's post concerning the time people take away from drinking at the start of a new year.

He argued that taking some time off in January is a good thing. Despite not totally agreeing with it last year I can see a bit more clearly this time around as to why it is a good thing. If you feel the need to step aside, I can respect that decision. After all, you're free to make your own personal choices. As I say with most moral and political things, there isn't some total universal law that deciphers right from wrong. It's all human choice.

I decided to take the weekend of myself from partaking in any drinking, sampling or tasting. I drank water and coffee all weekend. Given the holiday season from Thanksgiving all of the way to New Year's there is usually an above average amount of consumption due to work and family gatherings. I usually partake on weekends. So, the holidays set me off a bit.

I was going to make mint juleps and have a few beers on New Year's Eve, but my hate for the holiday kicked in after just two drinks. I haven't had a sip since. Aren't you glad I didn't update you throughout the entire process on social media?

Monday Rant: Sober January

#soberjanuary is all too real. Worst day we've had since we've been open.
— Brews on Carson (@BrewsOnCarson) January 16, 2013

That tweet above is pretty much the inspiration for this post. I've only ever heard of another human being participating in "Sober January" when my girlfriend took me to a holiday party at the home of her mother's friend just before New Years. For this couple, it was apparently customary to abstain from consuming alcoholic beverages throughout the first month of each year.

Now I'm only assuming this, but something tells me this has something to do with the throngs of New Years resolutionists that clog up our local health clubs. I guess that it's quite possible to want to work out and cut out alcohol altogether.

What I'm here to say is that I'm living proof that you can still drink occasionally and still lose up to 30 pounds! I was one of those resolutionists that joined a gym (I know I beat this like a dead horse) last year. I've stuck to it and renewed for another year. I know everyone's body reacts to things differently, but I feel that a few big keys for me was cutting out products loaded with sugar and not eating a lot after I've had a few drinks.

I also understand that some people out there would do something like this to remind themselves that they're still in control. That's perfectly fine. I do the same for Lent since I'm Catholic and a terrible one at that.