As much as I try to begin each year with a sense of optimism and purpose, January does its best to beat me down. I enjoy fresh starts, I like reevaluating and setting new goals, I enjoy everything that a new year is supposed to be about. So why is January so hard?
Is it as hard, I wonder, for people who live in sunny climes? I keep thinking maybe it's the weather where I live, and I suspect it may have a lot to do with that. I live on the mid-northern end of the Wasatch Front in Utah, and inversion is in full swing this time of year. (That means a blanket of cold air and crap is trapped in the valley and I'm ready to start wearing a SARS mask.)
I'm looking out my window and I see dirty snow. When it's winter, I want it to be either in the act of snowing or I want to see a beautifully deep blue sky with sparkling clean snow on the ground and in the trees. I don't demand much, do I?
Isn't that just like life, though? (Here comes the meaningful metaphor.) Things aren't always perfect, they don't always appear as we'd like them to. The trick is to find joy in the journey. So, against my better instincts, I'm going to list things I do like about January.
1. The house seems nice and simple after putting away all the red Christmas clutter.
2. As much as I enjoy having my kids at home, it's nice to get back into a routine when they go back to school.
3. I like the thought of planning for a new year that's full of fresh possibilities.
4. When it snows, it's beautiful.
5. Getting through it feels like an accomplishment.
Ok, that's a really lame list, but it's better than nothing. :-) And now, sitting here at the end of January, I have Valentines Day to look forward to, and then by the first part of March, I'm usually feeling pretty good.
Is it just me? I should ask my Florida relatives if they have January blahs. Well, wherever you are, I offer a big woohoo that we've survived January and I wish you good things to come from here on out. :-)
Easter Weekend 2019
5 years ago
4 comments:
I am feeling very blah as well. It's usually about this time that snow is no longer a novelty and I'm ready for a change of scenery and more sunshine. Poor Nicole in AK! And yep, I started teaching again in November. I teach 1 class of regular 6th grade LA, 1 class of ESL, and 3 classes of remedial reading for 7th grade. Pretty crazy!
This has been the first year that I can remember that I haven't gotten the january blah.
I attribute it to the fact that I've been snow hiking once a week. I love the crisp cold air and the beautiful scenery. I look forward to getting out in it and I get excited about buying new outdoor gear. I really recommend it. Let me know if you want to come with us. Its been life changing.
January has been very sunny and beautiful here. And I started Cross Country skiing so that has helped my january blahs. But I am sick of bundling up to go EVERYWHERE and my kids have lost 5 PAIRS OF GLOVES this winter. Ugh. Luckily I bought them at Costco so they were only 10 bucks each instead of 25 like the good ski gloves. I am just sick of all the school stuff my kids are needing help with. I have too many interests and homework gets in the way.
Just wanted to say thanks for including me in your sidebar :) January about killed me, but Feb has been much happier! PS- I also enjoy "seriously so blessed" that is some FUNNY writing!
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