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Three Life Lessons I Have Learned from Fasting
Insights from a Long-Term Faster
Most of the time, I am doing 24, 36, or 48-hour fasts, with one or two meals between them– I have been doing this for around four years now. My reasons for doing so relate mostly to mental health benefits, namely reduced anxiety. Over this huge period of time, I have learned some important lessons about life that I don’t think I would have gained if it wasn’t for fasting. I figured I would share them, as I believe they could be helpful even for people who do not fast.
1. Sharing Meals Strengthens Bonds
It is not unusual for fasters to prioritise their dietary habits over their friendships, romantic partnerships, and other relationships. This is something I have done in the past, although in recent years I have learned to value the significance of sometimes forgoing my fasting schedule so that I can eat (or drink) with loved ones.
Eating together is an extremely important part of socialising. There is a type of vulnerability that comes with sharing a meal that cannot easily be attained elsewhere. This is not something I had ever noticed in the past (back before I fasted) but nowadays it is something I cannot unsee.
