Caught between the old and new year

Embracing the slow pace of winter

It’s the third week of January, and I’m caught in a temporal limbo - I still haven’t fully embraced the new year, yet December feels so distant, as if my mind can’t comprehend the passage of time and catch up with the calendar.

It happens every year, and I know it’ll pass.

I haven't managed to fully shake off the lingering energy of those cosy Christmas days full of delicious food, way too much sugar, books, quiet time, and naps by the fire.

Such is the nature of winter, a season of rest and introspection.

Magazines, newspapers, and social media platforms may pressure me to transform my life and start the year at full speed, but I don't listen.

The garden looks forlorn and immobile but despite the absence of visible growth, deep within the earth roots and bulbs are storing nutrients and energy, preparing for the promise of spring renewal.

I follow nature's wisdom and embrace hibernation, spending time in stillness and self-observation.

Reflecting on the past five years, I notice all the challenges, accomplishments, and changes to my outer and inner world.

I quietly listen to my heart’s whispers so that I can figure out what I want to create in my life, at all levels, in the next few years, before I turn sixty.

I ponder my aspirations, contemplate the kind of person I want to become and the emotions I want to cultivate, clarifying what brings me joy, what's essential, and what's holding me back, so that I can take steps to nurture the former, and release the latter.

This limbo time is an opportunity to pause, assess, set intentions, and make plans, always keeping in mind that there's no guarantee of tomorrow and all I really have is the present moment.

I constantly remind myself that life is composed of individual days, hours, minutes, seconds, and how I manage my time in each moment eventually shapes my entire existence.

I ask myself - once I've taken care of all the essential chores and work necessary to meet basic needs and responsibilities, how do I intend to use this precious time I have left?

The more I ponder this question, the more I realise that the answer will be a lighthouse, a pathfinder, a compass leading me towards clarity and vision.

My slow-paced start to the year also allows me to define and implement small changes to my daily life, and take gradual steps towards the new future I envision.

Soon, my garden will awaken, and I too will resume spending more time outdoors, doing gardening jobs, creating videos, and more.

In the meantime, I focus on being, reflecting, and nurturing my own inner life.

And you, how are you starting this new year?