T. Carlos Anderson
Seven years ago, around Christmas time, our daughter Alex shared her upcoming New Year’s endeavor: The Druars.
I had never heard this word before, but I immediately understood it – dry January. Alex, a vegetarian and daily exerciser, continued her conversation with me and her mother, Denise, about the wisdom of detoxing in body and mind after the December season of excess.
It made an impression. A year later, Denise and I picked up Druary’s idea and thanked Alex for bringing the idea to life. Alex still practices Druary, as do the rest of the family. This year, Denise and I will perform Druary together for the sixth time.
As 2022 drew to a close, I was particularly looking forward to Druary’s break from drinking. Denise and I drink wine at most dinners…but due to being at home due to COVID and fewer evening meetings on my schedule, I am drinking more wine at dinners – and after them – than in previous years. Druariy not only gently clears psychological and physical conditions, but also provides an opportunity to reset them.
I’m in reset mode, and in addition, there are good historical reasons that make the case for Druary and his invitation to reclaim the wisdom of moderation.
The winter solstice on December 21 – the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere – has a deep cultural history associated with the rhythms of harvesting at the end of the year. For millennia, the period leading up to and following the solstice (what we modern people call October, November, December, and January) was a time of harvest, slaughter for fresh meat, and enjoyment of fermented products, beer, and wine. December was and still is a time of excess – eating, drinking, celebrating, resting – a time to enjoy the rewards of labor at the end of the year.
Our modern December holiday season with gifts and the rise of consumerism, rich food and libations and celebrations just follows suit. Santa Claus, with his round belly and deep laugh, is the iconic representative of our modern season of excess.
Have you ever put on weight during the winter holidays? Have you ever signed up for a gym membership in January? If yes, then you have experienced the natural rhythms of this season.
There is nothing wrong with casual excesses. The hundreds of seeds produced by the basil and cilantro plants in my garden when they bloom – waiting to reproduce next season – are a prime example of the goodness of excess.
However, when excess becomes a way of life, and addiction is the most insidious manifestation of excess, problems multiply both for the people who suffer from it and for the society in which they live. Eating, drinking, consumerism—all necessary parts of the human enterprise—are best done in moderation. This is the main theme and idea of my first book, A Little More.
As we age, we slow down and our habits—both good and bad—become more ingrained. The ability of young people to ignore mistakes and focus on new opportunities has diminished.
Let’s hope that for those of us who are getting older, the wisdom of the years has accumulated and worked out effective strategies to overcome the vagaries of life. As we have heard, it is said: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
I have good plans for 2023, God willing: several home projects, weekly golf, another book publication, continued meaningful social service work that I can do with great partners, and—along with everyone else—I looking forward to publication. -pandemic recovery. Druary helps me get the edge on those good ambitions where needed.
Despite Twitter being rife with attacks on Druary: “I lasted 8 hours in #Dryuary this year before a bottle of Rioja reserve called my name. . . “I am not convinced otherwise. The pendulum has swung from December to the blessed Druars. I raise my glass of iced hibiscus tea with fresh mint to the new year!
T. Carlos Anderson is a pastor and writer from Austin. This column was originally published on his blog at tcarlosanderson.com..
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