2026 – The Joy of January

Winter Reset

Did you see the sun on Monday? It was out there, cheering us on as we marched back to life after the holidays.

Here in the land of sometimes too dark, the sun is a welcome gift. I took advantage of it, and took a morning walk in it. I pondered the societal plea for New Year Resolutions. A tradition I have never followed. My resolutions are always seasonal. January is the middle of the winter season. I take it as seriously as I can. I tuck in and happily ride the calm of winters blessed tides.

Annually, I host my own annual seasonal swap. I put away my Christmas décor on January 6. I leave the winterish items up. The snow men, my ceramic village, each surrounded by strings of small lights. I collect pine bows and lay them around my tables and hearth. I marinate in walks, porch sittings, and quiet activities. It is a Holy Soulness to me. I am not the only one.

Holy Soulness

On that sunny Monday afternoon a couple of days ago, I found myself at the county recorders office. As I sat filing my claim, their computer glitched. The female recorder and I both said, “It doesn’t want to come back either.”

I considered her comment as I walked out of the building. Holy Soulness is more than laziness, or hiding out, or becoming recluse. We are creatures of nature. Our circadian rhythms know what to do. As the push and rush of the holidays dim, our bodies and souls crave the serene, the quiet, the stillness. Our life roots are deepening. Our spirit seeds are nurturing.

Celebrating the Dark

You may say, "That's nice, but you work from home. I don't." I hear you. Working from home wasn't always the case for me. For more than threed decades that wasn’t the case. January dawned, and life moved on. I had to move with it.

Yet, nights were still dark. In the dark I could recenter. Books were read, magazines flipped through, comfort meals served, personal projects were undertaken. Today, I do the same thing. I am nourishing me. Fortunately, I have a little more time to do it.

2026 Forward

With this first post of 2026, I invite you to Celebrate the Dark, and to create a Holy Soulness moment daily. Even if it is mere minutes. Treat yourself to the best gift you have. You. Sip a soothing drink by the fire. Turn off technology and listen to the rain. Play your favorite songs. You are worth every second.

I will see you in a couple of weeks. My blog plan for this year is to spend this year focusing on helping you tell your personal stories. I hope you will stick around.

Happy 2026, to You!!!