Following the Breezes

December always flies by.  It’s full of festivities and gatherings and all the frenzy of preparation and anticipation.  Sometimes we get lost in all the busyness and before we know it, it’s over.  It’s such a mixture of planning and fun and exhaustion.  While it’s a great time of year, I’m grateful that it’s only one month because I couldn’t keep up this pace year ‘round. 

December is like the bright light in a long, cold, dark time of year.  I confess to ticking off the days till they start getting longer and spring is just around the corner.  I have a really tough time with January.  I know it’s a mindset, but I feel like it lasts forever.  In my mind, it’s twice as long as all the other months. Christmas has come and gone, all the lights and decorations have been put into storage, and there’s very little brightness and festivity in January. 

There is a word for what January is like for me.  The term that best describes it is called “doldrums”.  The technical definition is “a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression.”  The most common use is as a nautical term that refers to the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters.  When I picture a sailboat just sitting on the ocean not making progress toward its destination, that’s what January always feels like to me. There’s a lot of waiting for the wind to change.  The days tend to be gray, we have very few hours of natural light, and it’s usually very cold.  For me, it’s difficult to feel upbeat and motivated.

I’m determined this year to take a different approach to January. It’s the first time in over 20 years that I’m not leaving the house to go to work.  I won’t have to bundle or wait for my car to thaw. I’m going to tackle some projects, focus on learning new things, set aside lots of time reading and writing, and be intentional about spending time with people who bring joy and laughter into my life.   I’m going to compile a list of “to-dos” so I have options each day to keep moving and making progress.  A sailboat with wind in my sails! 

I have no idea what 2022 will look like.  2020 and 2021 were quite challenging in many ways and I have a feeling we’re not out of the woods yet with all that’s going on in the world.  But I choose not to focus on all the hard things and remember that there are things to be positive about in every day.  The future is out of my control, but how I approach life and respond to what happens can make a difference.  My resolution for this new year is “Be Present, Be Generous, Be Faithful, Be Focused.”   May each of you experience the breezes to keep your ship sailing smoothly in 2022.  Happy New Year!