There is a spaciousness to January that always surprises me when I tumble out of the holidays. A peace that eludes Christmas, sadly. I wonder if I could somehow draw that peace toward me the next time the holidays are upon me...?
And I'd like to shift my sleep cycle earlier. Your Ayurvedic wisdom resonates deeply. Thanks, Barbara, for the calm you bring to my life! xox
I am always a mix of something! Like you, I luuuuuv the winter, a cold, snowy day when I am forced to be inside for much of the time-- But I do stuff indoors like the semi-maniac that I am... Baking is one of my favorite things. Also cartooning or writing, getting those little chores I never seem to get around to until I CAN'T go out because of ice on the road. And, well, bald tires! Not always, but right now, yep.
But I relate muchly to this post. I love winter, and all the seasons, but I do love winter. And YES, I do think your sleep ideas are good ideas. Sag rules! :)
Yes I agree that January is a great month for deep reflection and relaxation (despite my collection of rescued cats, dogs, horse and donkey). I too am glad of an emptier social calendar (being a Cancerian, I just love to stay home haha!) I love that cosy feeling of closing the curtains early and building up the fire nice and bright, adding candles for atmosphere and reading my favourite Substack writers or curling up with a book. Here, in Cyprus, we are having a very mild winter with bright sunshine and only the occasional rain shower. So for me, winter is only really evident at night and only for a few months, which is why I love it so much.
There is a line in a song by Lucy Wainwright, "the part of me that only loves the winter" that I always resonated with. Yeah, I got that part too. I'm also on the east coast and notice, now that the days are getting longer, that bit of me that's sad. But wait, it's only January!! And time feels like it's speeding up doesn't it? These last few year especially so. I want more winter, not less.
Your house is so lovely and so at home in its surrounding. And clearly, so are you.
Really nice to read (and feel) your reflections, as a human in touch with the natural world.
Beautiful and wise - as some of your readers have also commented. Here's to January!!
Oh, my!! This is so beautiful! Thank you for your wise words. I’m so glad you love January the way you do. And, I’m so grateful you have your peaceful spot in the world.
I’ve grown to love January too, since I don’t have to get up and clean my car and hustle to work. Reading this on the eve of a big snow storm heading to Chicago. But I agree, after the holidays and all the fall/winter birthdays in my household, to just have peace and quiet and not worry about making food, or hosting, or gifting, or the rest of it, is pure joy. ❤️
I love it too!!!! Would be super cozy if I didn't have to work but I do love it!!!!!! Cozy!!!!! My only concerns are Temps so cold because of my outdoor critter and cats. Sometimes I feel like their houses just aren't enough with its 12 degrees or lower. But if it was for that... I LOVE it. Xoxo I am going to try the no screens thing soon too!!!! I love you! Sweet dreams
I also love nature so much it sometimes seems crazy. Little rocks and even sticks. Always hoping to see some form of wildlife. Coyote, deer, raccoon or turkeys. They live here too but hard to see. Mine is a cabin in a rural county of California. If it weren't for nature, I'd go crazy. And I feel so lucky. Such a humble abode, but I feel like life is a gift, and if I didn't live here I might not feel that way.
There is a spaciousness to January that always surprises me when I tumble out of the holidays. A peace that eludes Christmas, sadly. I wonder if I could somehow draw that peace toward me the next time the holidays are upon me...?
And I'd like to shift my sleep cycle earlier. Your Ayurvedic wisdom resonates deeply. Thanks, Barbara, for the calm you bring to my life! xox
I am always a mix of something! Like you, I luuuuuv the winter, a cold, snowy day when I am forced to be inside for much of the time-- But I do stuff indoors like the semi-maniac that I am... Baking is one of my favorite things. Also cartooning or writing, getting those little chores I never seem to get around to until I CAN'T go out because of ice on the road. And, well, bald tires! Not always, but right now, yep.
But I relate muchly to this post. I love winter, and all the seasons, but I do love winter. And YES, I do think your sleep ideas are good ideas. Sag rules! :)
Yes I agree that January is a great month for deep reflection and relaxation (despite my collection of rescued cats, dogs, horse and donkey). I too am glad of an emptier social calendar (being a Cancerian, I just love to stay home haha!) I love that cosy feeling of closing the curtains early and building up the fire nice and bright, adding candles for atmosphere and reading my favourite Substack writers or curling up with a book. Here, in Cyprus, we are having a very mild winter with bright sunshine and only the occasional rain shower. So for me, winter is only really evident at night and only for a few months, which is why I love it so much.
What a heartwarming post. I relate!!
There is a line in a song by Lucy Wainwright, "the part of me that only loves the winter" that I always resonated with. Yeah, I got that part too. I'm also on the east coast and notice, now that the days are getting longer, that bit of me that's sad. But wait, it's only January!! And time feels like it's speeding up doesn't it? These last few year especially so. I want more winter, not less.
Your house is so lovely and so at home in its surrounding. And clearly, so are you.
Really nice to read (and feel) your reflections, as a human in touch with the natural world.
Beautiful and wise - as some of your readers have also commented. Here's to January!!
Thank you for these beautiful words and as always sharing wise reminders. Love and hugs :)
Oh, my!! This is so beautiful! Thank you for your wise words. I’m so glad you love January the way you do. And, I’m so grateful you have your peaceful spot in the world.
I’ve grown to love January too, since I don’t have to get up and clean my car and hustle to work. Reading this on the eve of a big snow storm heading to Chicago. But I agree, after the holidays and all the fall/winter birthdays in my household, to just have peace and quiet and not worry about making food, or hosting, or gifting, or the rest of it, is pure joy. ❤️
I love it too!!!! Would be super cozy if I didn't have to work but I do love it!!!!!! Cozy!!!!! My only concerns are Temps so cold because of my outdoor critter and cats. Sometimes I feel like their houses just aren't enough with its 12 degrees or lower. But if it was for that... I LOVE it. Xoxo I am going to try the no screens thing soon too!!!! I love you! Sweet dreams
I also love nature so much it sometimes seems crazy. Little rocks and even sticks. Always hoping to see some form of wildlife. Coyote, deer, raccoon or turkeys. They live here too but hard to see. Mine is a cabin in a rural county of California. If it weren't for nature, I'd go crazy. And I feel so lucky. Such a humble abode, but I feel like life is a gift, and if I didn't live here I might not feel that way.