Waving January Good bye
I NEED tons of sunshine to exist. At least real sun rays every other day. Even here in the very very south of Louisiana, January is the least sunny month. On top of that entire indignity…it snowed this month. HA HA HA HA. I really am laughing. If you live in the south you know we, as a people and communities, can not function when it snows. So think about it, we get snow about every ten years, there are no snow plows, no trucks that salt the roads, nothing. Our municipalities do not have any fancy equipment for snow. Because why? That would be a huge expense that would sit in a garage for years. So I get it. But when it snows in the south we all stay home and have a snow day. It does has a lot of charm, people out playing in the snow, making snowmen. (I saw one at every other house at least when it got warm enough for me to drive on the roads.) If your electricity stays on it can seems like a post card. (And this time our electricity did stay on) So, it was pretty idyllic for a while.
BUT…I grew up in the midwest, so I am NOT a snow starved youth. So yes, I enjoyed the day of falling snow snuggled near my fireplace, a walk in the light floaty flakes taking pictures with my sweetie…BUT THEN I WAS DONE. Because, we then dropped to record setting low temperatures…like 8 degrees. Laughter again. This lasted for several days along with very moody grays and maybe a sun ray every now and then. (I don’t even know what emoji fits here.)
To say the least it has finally warmed up. It isn’t very sunny, but the temps are much more normal.
I went into January thinking it was going to be: quiet, rest, let my mind declutter itself, let inspiration wiggle around and relax, take a break from social media, etc. I tried… I haven’t been on social media much, but the other stuff…big sigh. That’s ok. I have spent some serious time decluttering the studio, so that counts. It is sparkly and ready for me to paint. I did paint several new paintings I really like. They are a bit moody…ha ha…we know where that inspiration came from. But I didn’t get to sit as quietly as I would have like. Just lots of things.
So how do move forward… With out looking back. (yes I am laughing)
I know that sometimes we humans have to sort of put our head down and get though it. I do believe (and the purpose of this blog ) that we can find joy and beauty in every situation. I did this month, but I am more than ready for February. Lucky for us southerners, we can get bits of green popping out and some years even get warm enough for the azaleas to bloom. (I just planted snow peas.) I am looking forward to more sunshine, more painting in my sparkly clean studio, and the planning of my flower garden.
So good bye January, you and I always wrestle a bit. I don’t hold it against you. I do look for your beauty, and you have had your moments, but I just need more sunshine to exist.
So my friends, are you January people, or do you wrestle with it too? Tell me your tips for getting though January with out it feeling like it last for 285 days.
