A good, dark and cold morning, readers.
Last month, I wrote The Lights in the Darkness, a list of things that add light to my darkness. Discussing grief and how it never leaves, it’s important to always be looking for light so you won’t be consumed by darkness. January is one of the toughest months for a lot of people. Frigid weather, overcast, and a chill down period from the holidays, shorter days. Some would say there is a lot of darkness (literally, the sun goes down at 4:30. But also figuratively) in January but there is also a lot of light if you are willing to look for it.
This year, January has looked much different to me than it has before. When growing up in Pennsylvania, January was miserable. Cold. Wet. Overcast. Rarely any sun coming out to latch on to although desperately needing it. Then when I moved to Florida, January took on a different form. Often chilly (by FL standards). Sometimes overcast. But never really felt like Winter. And now, in my third home, Colorado. January brought us feel-like temperatures of -30. But almost every day the sun comes out shining. The clouds fly by quickly. The animals are all still out and about. Birds chirping. People outside enjoying the warmth offered by the suns rays…or they are quite literally just thawing out.
This morning, Sunday, January 21, 2024, as I sip my coffee at the kitchen table of our new home, husband and son playing chess, other two kids are coloring, I am not in a desperate search for light. I can see and feel the light around me. For the first time in my life, January is not weighing on me like some sort of wet, dark, cold blanket. This January has been beautiful. We have been able to plant our roots (and they say nothing grows at 9,000ft elevation, HA!) and start a new chapter of our lives. But even when you are not in search of light in the darkness, they are still everywhere.
You don’t always have to be surrounded by darkness to remind yourself of the light and beauty of this world, of your world. You don’t always need to be struggling to stop and look around. Take it and breathe it all in. Beauty can be recognized daily and should be appreciated always.
The Lights in the Darkness:✨
Another day🫶🏼
My family & their current health after a stomach bug ran through the house
Our goofy pup, Hazel
Coffee
Slow mornings with no TV
The unwaivering strength of the pine trees in our yard
The knots on the Aspen trees looking like little eyeballs —always good for a laugh
A good book (Currently reading Holes—my favorite book when I was 12 & have The Way Home by Mark Boyle up next on my list, thanks to Sue at Spiral Leaf)
Abundance of wild life right outside my door
I saw my first elk this month!
January can be a dark and hard time for many people. The holidays have settled down and everyone kind of takes a social step back. Daylight is fleeting. It’s important to remind yourself that there is so much light and beauty surrounding you at every moment of everyday if you take the time to look. For me, sitting down and making a “Lights” list or a Gratitude list is the most helpful reminder. You always end the list with a smile and eager to find more things to be grateful for or more things that light up your darkness.
Be kind and gentle with yourselves. Allow yourself grace during these dark times. But don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the darkness. You deserve more than that.
-AD