What’s your truth about winter? the end of the year? the holiday season?
Are you angry like me?
My truth is that I’ve never liked winter or being cold or being merry. My body says this is not a time for activity and being outgoing. My being wants to get quiet and nest with tea and a book and eat sweets. I can’t seem to get enough chocolate despite the plethora of truffles in my house (thanks to the dear friend who sent them to me:). I don’t want to do, do, do.
I’m angry because I think I should feel expansive and energetic and outgoing, and I don’t.
I’m angry because I want to do nothing. And you’re supposed to be productive, right?
I’m angry because I still have important things on my to-do list and I don’t want them to greet me next year.
I’m angry because many things take more effort now than they did a month ago.
Are you angry too?
What’s your truth about winter and shifts in energy and merrymaking?
I decided to bring these questions to my weekly client group. I want to share the questions with you.
The winter season. What’s true for you? What’s your tendency and your energy this time of year? What does your body want to do (because the body speaks really loudly when she is telling you to sleep or eat, and the body is talking to you when she gets tired because it’s dark out)? Your body has intelligence. Listen to her.
What is your season? When do you most come alive?
What’s your truth about the holiday season in particular? Do you love lights and baking? Do you love visiting and the rituals of tree trimming or candle lighting? Or, are you a bah humbug stop playing Christmas carols person? Be honest and clear. What does your being want during the holidays?
Winter, holidays, the pandemic. What are you missing? What can you do to support yourself and honor what you need and love? It’s true that zoom is no substitute for visiting and baking together, but you can still enact rituals to touch into the rhythms that matter to you at this time of year. That includes the ritual of wearing pajamas all day and hibernating.
What’s your truth about being productive and getting things done at this time of year? Do you need to take it slow? Do you need to clear the closets and sweep out the crumbs that have been accumulating all year? Do you love writing letters to friends right now or working on projects like a website or resume or business plan?
Is winter a time to slow down and be quiet or rev up and be busy?
Here’s the DOING part of the exercise.If you could finish JUST ONE THING before the end of the year, what would it be? Just one thing to clear off your list. There are only a few weeks left. You CAN get one thing done, whether big or small. But make a deliberate decision to get it done.
How about telling one person what you are planning to complete. That could be me (you have my email), maybe it’s your mother or your best friend or your dog.
Even if you are a low energy winter person like me, get one thing done to close out the year. Just one thing.
Punctuate 2020 by getting one thing off your list.
We are living in a time of “in between,” liminal space that has us waiting and anticipating a time when we have greater freedoms and ease and well-being. Because the seasons have been distorted by a pervasive season of pandemic and pending loss (not gain), I think we have to find ways to mark and punctuate shifts in time and productivity. As I wrote in my last newsletter, most of us are not linear. We don’t work sure and steady constantly forging ahead. We have our own rhythms. We are well served by honoring our innate seasons of energy and lethargy.
Tis the onset of the winter season. Honor what’s true about it for you.
