Despite best intentions otherwise and New Year's resolutions abounding, progress in January and February in my life in the Northern hemisphere seems to be fraught with colds, winter blues and the mother of all ruts. I do not have a birthday in January, or have spent time on hols Down Under, so doom and gloom is here stalking me through my blue days..
But why do I put so much pressure on myself on the 1st January, every year, without fail to set enormous, almighty and unachievable goals for the new year? Why oh why? Is it because now that Christmas is over, I feel that I MUST take charge of my life after all the eating, drinking and letting things slip over the holidays? Is it the newly found tire or the food or alcohol hangover that lasts 3 days??? Why do I think my own self-worth hinges on my behaviour now and that LIFE and a New Year, new ME started on 1st January, when I was feeling extremely second hand, at best, and the days are icy cold, short and dark, with the only bright light on the horizon being Chinese New Year at the beginning of February.
Shouldn't I set an intention for the Chinese New Year - now that I have royally stuffed up the calendar new year? Is this my second chance, my Hail Mary? At least January is out of the way and days are starting to get longer...... bluebells and crocuses are popping their colourful little heads up in the park. Spring is just around the corner honestly, I sigh, I wish, I pray....
Ahh Spring. A time of rebirth, fertility, growth and transformation. I naturally become more alive in Spring. I am like caterpillars, breaking out of it's chrysalis and being transformed into a gorgeous iridescent butterfly. I start smiling to myself at the happy faces of the jolly yellow daffodils and fresh baby blooms. Days are longer and gardens and I can smell new life and possibilities in the air. Isn't this when I should start putting my plans for World dominance into action? Doesn't this make more sense?
I'm not saying spend January and February in bed or on the sofa, although this is a very attractive thought for this February me - tired of winter and now avoiding social interactions in favour of the 4 walls of my kitchen. Close to the comforting trifecta of fridge, kettle and toaster .... but maybe that is ok, and these dark wet months could just be a time of laying down fat, conserving my energy (like the hibernating bears), percolating ideas and dreaming and contemplating my great, wild, and ambitious goals for the year?
I always thought it interesting that in the Romulus Calendar (pre-Julian Calendar, which was pre our current Gregorian calendar), there were 10 months in the calendar, which started in March and finished in December and was 304 days long. The remaining 61 odd days were apparently ignored, resulting in a gap during the winter season, as this was a period of INACTIVITY! The first month of the calendar, Martius, corresponded with the arrival of Spring.
So, when I am pondering my January and February slump, and addiction to being within 10 paces of the fridge and kitchen, I am going to stop, take a deep breathe, let go, relax, and remember it was always meant to be this way. Spring will be here before I know it and then I can jump back into my lycra and skip to the park for joyous light early morning runs or workouts and more than happily abandon my human hibernation for another year.