The Joy of January: the slowness of winter without the holiday pressure

I know, I KNOW— it’s cold, it’s dreary, it’s mushy, and not as cold as it once one and that’s a bit worrisome, no? I write this note to you, dear reader, not to erase your hatred of winter, whether that hatred is personal or, for some, clinical (my seasonal affective friends). However, this something to tuck into your pocket and carry into the new year, which is 5 joys of January that bring delight to me and, maybe in 2025, to you.

1. Resolutions done at Mother Nature’s Pace: We plant the seed early, but we don’t want a rush to the bloom.

I think the New Year is a beautiful invitation towards something slightly different ie not a Winter Arc that requires you to “become unrecognizable”, but a slow planting and having enough space for something to change in your life this year. More on this to come in January’s first edition of my TBD Name zine

2. January has the invitation to slow down that we always desire, but the invitation to boredom that other months don’t. Boredom is part of the slowing down equation.

All of us (me included!) love love love the idea of slowing down. But I need a little help from external structures, and what is social burn out and dreary weather but a perfect excuse to slow down our endeavors? And before you say it, I think this and number one go perfectly together. It’s the slowing down and smallest change that are a perfect combination.

Let’s say your change is wanting to eat more vegetables by the end of 2025. Maybe in January, you add a couple recipes for stews and soups that expands your repertoire of veggies. You have a little time because it’s boredom season, AND this fits the slowing down and reading with soup spirit of the January season.

3. January continues some of my favorite aesthetic themes—I don’t retire my Christmas tree, star lights, sugar plum, peppermints until Valentines Day. It’s a gift to let yourself enjoy the cozy and bright theme as long as it suits.

We will see this in the beauty section of the Zine, but I think the icy blues and pinks do even better in January, and there’s less competition with the holidays. I will be watching Ice Princess, reading a rom com about a hockey player and an ice skater, and frequenting Frog Pond in Boston.

4.As I’ve said, winter is what I think of as imagination season. This is THE PERFECT time to finally try that craft you’ve been eyeing on Pinterest for so long.

Mine is painting and digging into to mini paints for my art journal. And, obviously, writing longer form here on substack.

5. Though not cool, I love a reason to pick a show I’ve wanted to become obsessed with for a long time and spend cold, long nights watching it.

On my list? Fashion shows, especially my mom’s recommendation for months of Mr. Selfridge.

What do you love about the coming month, and, for the relief of it, what do you hate?

I love writing to you all here, so thanks for spending some time in this corner of the internet!

xx,

Margaret