Hello everyone!

Happy New Year! Yup, it’s two weeks in, so that probably seems like old news and an outdated greeting. It kinda does to me, too.

I took a very different approach to the whole New Year thing this year. I did reflect on last year, and I did celebrate the new year, and I did think about what I want this year to be like and what I want to achieve. I did not make any resolutions. I did start a couple of fun things that happened to be starting in early January.

But mostly I settled in to rest and nest. For the first time in a few years in Northern California, we have a wet January with a lot more darkness each day. Last year it was spring for 7 months and summer for 4! I’m not used to the winterness, so it took me a bit longer to adjust. I discovered that my energy is different this time of year. During the day, I have a huge urge to de-clutter and organize and donate “things” that I don’t need anymore. I also want to cook – to make soups and warm things and yeasty things and cheesy things. I want to write, and work with my clients. At night I want to watch or read my stories while snuggled under a blanket. I want to light candles, and look at my precious things.

I notice, too, that I really want to protect my energy. I don’t want to get caught up in any kind of hype – none at all. I want to guard against things that don’t align with my values. For me, that means really restricting my exposure to mainstream media and political debates and award shows and diet and fitness discussions. Oh, and anything where I have to pretend to be interested – just not happening now.

This is rest. This is nurturing. This is winterness. It’s definitely not being dormant. It is going internal. It’s warm and cozy and nesting. I am still accomplishing a lot, it’s just a different energy. It feels a bit easy, not pressured. I am loving it.

And I know full well that I will not be stuck here, and that I don’t have the patience to last a full calendar winter like this. I will start itching for the energy of growth that is spring very soon. I love spring. And I REALLY love summer. Oh, and I love autumn. But that is really jumping ahead. I love spring and I know that in a few short weeks I will start feeling that inner lightening bug that means it’s coming. Knowing that I won’t be stuck here allows me to feel comfortable and relax into being here while I am.

I know that we are all different, and so are our experiences. I would love to hear how you are starting your new year! Seriously, please post something below or email me at maggie@talktomaggie.com! I want to hear from you!

Love and light,

Maggie