black and white image open journal with january 1 on it and it's next to 2 champagne glasses

How To See January as a Continuation, Not a Correction

When I think about resetting, January is the biggest, dustiest, stankest lie I feel like we all agree to tell ourselves.

We pretend it’s the start of a brand new season, when the holidays literally just ended five minutes ago and I’m still too full to dive into anything with any real gumption. Don’t push me.

January equals dark

I still love all my January birthday babes, February ones for that matter, too, but January is dark!
It’s dark when we wake up, dark when we leave work, and dark when we get home. And somehow we’re, read I’m, supposed to hop up and reinvent our lives right here, right now?

Give me a Big-Age break. And I mean a real one… cause I’m Gen X.

Saying, nope… no thank you

I proudly skip the big declarations.
The resolutions.
The “new year, new me” energy that feels forced instead of fulfilling.

Nature isn’t rushing, blooming, or performing right now. She’s quiet and being respectful. The ground is resting. Animals are conserving energy. Everything non-human has slowed or is slowing down.

So why are we forcing ourselves to sprint?

Humans, get a grip!

We need to listen better, not just more.

plant emerging from snow, with sunrise in background

January isn’t when I wake up.
Spring 100% is.

Spring is when the light doesn’t just change, it comes back with a big, warm, welcoming hug. And while I’ll never naturally wake at sunrise, my body stirs with more ease and less drag.

It’s when ideas feel less like “And how the hell am I gonna do that?” and more like “Oh, OK, derr, I see now” possibility.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets. It clears space in your mind too. Out with the old and cold, and in with a new hue.

January, for me, isn’t about becoming

We’re always doing that.

January is still just winter doing its frosty foolishness, so for me it’s about continuing. Thawing, not restarting.

And if you’re not ready to start over yet, you’re not behind either.

You’re just still wintering. Patiently waiting for summer to put on her big-girl knickers and arrive early, if you don’t mind.
And that’s more than okay.

Save this for the days January acts too bold with the BS.

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