It’s that time of year again, the holidays are behind us, (thank god) and it’s another kick at the can for an even better year. I’ve overindulged, consuming too much shortbread, chocolate and everything in between, I guess that’s nothing new. I’m tired of eating and drinking, exhausted at the thought of it, or am I? lol! I desperately need to get back into a routine by getting my butt to the gym and my food intake under control, it’s a start. Christmas is packed away, and it’s nice to enjoy my home sans glitter and baubles. I can’t stand clutter, and yet I deck the halls as if I’m a closet hoarder, pulling out box after box from my storage locker, seemingly shocked, I have so much stuff! It’s all gone, done, check, until next December when the cycle starts all over again. It’s funny, every year, I say the same thing, “let’s just go away.” Like the Kranks escaping Christmas, I would love to try escaping just once. What does that even look like? Would I sit on a beach somewhere exotic or travel to a European city famous for their Christmas markets and completely ingulf myself into the holiday spirit? Hmmm…

I’m not a New Years resolutions type of girl, but I would like to make a change this year in some way for the better. There’s no escaping the news, with crazy politics, climate change and Greta, Greta, Greta, it’s enough to make me run for the hills and hide, “the sky is falling!!”  It can be sad and depressing to watch our planet in turmoil but doing nothing is not an option.

My youngest son studies Earth Ocean Sciences at university. I admire his passion for being proactive regarding climate change. His stories from school are enough to make anyone want to make a difference. He recently went vegan and committed himself to practise what he preaches. Explaining to me that one of the single most significant ways to reduce climate change on a global scale is to change your diet. This won’t happen overnight but being conscious of what we eat every day and making slight changes in our diet is a start.

It’s easier than you think, changing old habits and adding a few new twists to what we put in our bodies is also helping our health. Eating a plant-based diet is all about mindset. To be honest, I love my eggs and cheese, I can do without the meat, but those two items specifically are a necessity, for now. Who doesn’t love a runny brie on french bread, or soft poached eggs on avocado toast with a little mayo drizzle? Delicious decadence I can’t give up, not yet. That said, I am making an effort to try new food and removing meat where I can, and I don’t miss it, AT ALL.

I am a “less is more” type of person, clutter makes me crazy.  I buy what I need when I need it, partly because I don’t have the luxury of space. I hate waste, so this is my attempt to cut down on yet another issue. In all seriousness, I’m not going to solve the problems of the world overnight.  In fact, it takes a village or a large handful of people to make change happen, every little bit counts. My new year will definitely include more plant-based food, for me, it’s a step in the right direction. As for my holiday decorations and my plans to escape next Christmas, we’ll wait and see. In the meantime, I’m hoping that everyone can do their bit to help our planet and the people on it.

LC

xo