“The best part about Christmas is the food” is something that we hear over and over again. “I’m not looking forward to the Christmas weight gain” is something else we hear time and time again. Things I remember hearing from a very young age. When these two statements are being bandied around with such carelessness, how is it possible to see the wood from the trees?
Finding my place between these two sentiments is a struggle I have grappled with for years. As someone who has had a difficult relationship with food, I used to hate Christmas. It felt impossible to enjoy the season when all I could think about was the food and how to avoid it. My first semester at university was a tough one – it was a particularly cold winter, my heating wasn’t working, and I’d been ill for months. Instead of taking the necessary steps to heal myself, I shut myself down, which only succeeded in making me more ill.
In the time since, I have paid special attention to healing my relationship with food, particularly in the winter months. It’s during this period that eating well is crucial, both for mental and physical health. When I was younger, people told me how important it was to eat – how much it affected every bodily function - and I believed I was the exception. I later realised I was not and that when I ate, I was actually able to focus, and my body was able to heal itself when I was sick.
Winter can be a tough time when you have a bad relationship with food – I can admit I was somewhat dreading this winter. However, I have found it to be a good time to heal, as well as a time to begin to move forward. Taking every day step by step. Thinking about my own enjoyment and my own needs. This winter, the best part is self-contentment.
