It’s the never-ending month. One where not a lot happens and we’re all in recovery mode, yet it’s one of the most challenging. I’ve found myself stressing more than usual lately, that there’s really not much going on for me! Work is dead this time of year, it’s off-season for the racing and most of my automotive gigs. I’ve had no more groundbreaking medical appointments or health discoveries to blog about, I’m just ticking away taking my hormones, trying to remain balanced!
I haven’t impulsively booked any long-haul flights for my next adventure and like most creatives, I’m struggling for inspiration or content to bring you! Forgive me. But while I’ve been mulling this and letting my glorious over-thinking brain rage on, I’ve realised a few encouraging things; not just about January, but for us all simply existing in it.
While it might feel like a ‘Dead Month’ with not much going on, there is actually a hell of a lot going on for us all, internally. Without realising it, you’re already doing A LOT in January. You’re working harder than you usually have to on all aspects of life.
For starters, you’re working much harder to exercise willpower and stick to healthy choices, as you ween yourself off mince pies and chocolate for breakfast. Surrounded by constant temptation with left over Celebrations still lay around the house, tucked down beside the sofa. Or overflow booze still in the fridge. Couple that with the fact it's freezing so you’re naturally craving comfort food and stodge anyway!
Yes, the weather is not on our side this month and maybe you’ve spent the last 9 days dicing with death, fearing for your life as you merely try and walk between one lamppost to another, in the thick sheet ice and old snow we’ve had that refused to melt. Trust me, it’s been an Osteoporosis sufferer’s worst nightmare! I’ve had to work a little harder to keep myself safe so far this month, in my current ‘made of glass’ state.
But most of all, just keeping your mental health in daily check this time of year (for me personally) is the biggest challenge. It might not look to others like you’re doing a lot but trust me, you are. If you’re battling low mood, low energy or SAD, intensified by the lack of vitamin D, but still managing to put on a brave face, drag yourself through the day and pass as ‘Okay’- I salute you. Or if you’re staying optimistic despite the bills flooding in and winter sickness bugs in the air, you’re already applying more effort every day than you normally do.
Nature is screaming at us to hibernate and although we’re not squirrels and have to ‘do life’, it’s the time of year when we have to do the Inner Work. The work no one can see until you’ve emerged to the next phase. The type of work that has no end, you just keep going, keep evolving, keep feeling your way through it. I’m asking myself big questions this time of year as always, but also asking very small ones. They still matter too. So, give yourself credit for those daily battles you face and conquer. The struggles no one sees.
It’s a bit like writing a book… No one sees the effort or time you’re putting in until it’s out and published!
I’d like to re-brand January “Writing Season”. Where we’re writing our future and figuring out how we want it to go. Be bold and don’t be embarrassed if you want to change direction or do a complete U-turn on what you thought your plans were! I’m seeing flashes of this lately as I proofread and edit my second book, before sending it to the professionals and ultimately taking it to print. I’m sorry it’s taken me longer than I anticipated, but sometimes those ‘January challenges’ or simply ‘All year challenges’ rear their ugly heads. I'm a mixture of terrified and excited to unleash it on the world, as it's even longer and even more soul-baring than the first.
Maybe you haven't read book one of 'The Nearly Girl' yet, but if you enjoy this blog, I truly believe you'll enjoy my book. It's currently available for FREE on Kindle Unlimited as my gift to you, and will no doubt whet your appetite for the next instalment when it's published in Spring.
Please find the book links (across all platforms) listed on the About page.
So, go gently with yourself my friends. Surround yourself with people who build you up and remind you you’re doing enough. And my favourite quote of all for this season: 'Hurry slowly'.
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