I moved to Texas in the summer of 1990. As many of you know, I am originally from the Chicago area and went on to spend four years in college at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Growing up, I was always cold! When I moved to Houston it was hot. Very hot. You know, TEXAS HOT! I didn’t mind at all. I hate to be cold! Hate it, Hate it, Hate it. As a matter of fact I am sitting here at my computer with cold toes and fingers right now! Brrr, I hate to be cold.
Every year when I head back home to the Midwest to visit, they all ask “When are you moving back?” I look at them and politely smile and think “never! It’s too cold here.” I don’t do well in the cold. I’m a girl who prefers to move it and shake it during the spring, summer and fall. Come winter – I shut down, get under the covers and snuggle to stay warm. The sun sets early and so do I. The trees are bare, the grass is frosted, the landscaping goes dormant, etc. So, my question to you is… why do we make new years resolutions during the coldest time of the year when everything around us says this isn’t the growing season? Yes, it’s a new year, another clean page on the calendar, heck a whole new calendar even, but looking around my surroundings, it really isn’t the time for growth and change.
I recently read a quote by Anderw Wyeth that said “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.” Now I don’t prefer winter, but I do agree that there is something that “waits beneath it” and come Spring, I jump into the growing season with a renewed sense of hope and joy. Mother Nature joyfully announces it’s open season again. Rise, and shine and be all you are meant to be! Grow, change, tend to your gardens in life as this is the time for rebirth!
My point is, it’s ok if you didn’t make any New Year resolutions. Come spring when nature supports our growing season let’s meet up again and talk! Then we will see where our new motivations are planning to take us! Until then, as my favorite life coach Cheryl Richardson says, “Forget about doing it “right” in the New Year. Do it “happy” instead!” After all, we do say HAPPY NEW YEAR! Enjoy the winter, throw another log on the fire, sip another hot cocoa, snuggle by the fire and be happy. For soon, the growing season will be here and you will need your strength!
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