Rethinking and temptations

I participated in the 30 day challenge in January and now I am almost 29 days in the 40 day challenge. 11 more days and then it's over. The experience is very different between the 2 challenges. At Christmas and New Years you normally drink quite heavily, so I was happy to start the first challenge. Just detox, let the body recover. In January the temptations weren't there either, probably because I didn't really pay attention to them. Just get through that month. The time between the two challenges was actually only 2 weeks. Which is good, because I didn't plan to go straight to the bottle again. But in February and March you do have the feeling that the year has started a bit. Everything is falling into place and the routines that were there at the end of last year are also slowly returning. In short, the choices are there again and the thought of a red wine, a glass of cognac or a beer flashes through the head.

“Think again, Henk”, my brother says. Rethinking is a way of thinking and acting in which you look at reality as it is and investigate what you would do with it. Hupsakee, what a sudden wisdom. If I have to let go of a vision, and before I fully understand it, then I will be at least two weeks further into the challenge. Yet it is correct, if I look at the current reality. In recent years, this has been my reality: participating in the 30- and 40-day challenge and then actually back to square one. Of course you learn from such a process, but have I actually done something with it? The conclusion is 'no'. The so-called rethinking must therefore start now, because then I could and should really benefit from it in the future.

As I said in February and March, the routines fall into place. That also means there are more temptations. I'm really not happy with the lockdown and it's so incredibly sad for the catering industry that they've been closed for months. Of course this helps me. No temptations in that regard. In addition, there are plenty of other temptations lurking, we know that better than anyone. I haven't been drinking on the so-called working days for several years now. If there is a birthday, I would like to abandon this principle for a while. There have already been a number of birthdays, and the tingles of temptation are really evident. On my way to the birthday it's already in my head. I immediately shout out with a smile: “I'm participating in the IkPas challenge”. Often no response, or a somewhat uncomfortable look from those present. What is he saying? Has he had a drink or something? Not everyone knows the challenge, but just saying it gives a boost for the rest of the evening.

The temptations during the weekend are deep in my system.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoon I can enjoy a good glass of port. I then sit in the loggia with some cheese, a slice of sausage, some nuts and let the first sip circulate in my mouth. I grab a book, then immediately check the clock. Can I have another glass before we eat? Quick… just barely. These are the real temptations. Every Saturday and Sunday that tension and pleasure resurface. It's also because the moment of the glass and the passing of the first sip is a form of total relaxation. At least I think so. Experts will probably give it another name.

This 40 day challenge is different. I have a completely different goal. In this challenge I don't want to make it out until the 40 days and then maybe go back to the order of the day. I'm going to rethink, I'm going to do something with what I'm doing. One can just do it right away. He draws a line under it and adapts to reality. I'm not that kind of figure. For example, if I do not drink for a long period of time, I will not really lose weight. Then I snack. Drop, bears, tigers, balls. Typical compensatory behavior. I then have to look for a certain kind of structure every time to break it. My structure is sports, my structure is not drinking 5 days a week, my structure is chewing gum instead of sweets. My structure is therefore rethinking to resist the NOW in the future. I still have a lot of steps to take in the next 11 days to apply the rethinking. I realize that now. I'm already well over halfway, but happy that this challenge has 40 days. It'll be fine.