Begin as you mean to go on… Charles Spurgeon
Here we are one week into the new year. I spent some of last week tucking away Christmas… a bit of a melancholic activity. But I also like the feeling of reclaimed space to start the new year… which helps to balance the sadness of packing the tree away.
I also spent some time contemplating the year… I got my calendar all set for the month. I always feel so organized by doing this and perhaps this year that feeling will linger!
And I spent some time comtemplating Carole’s idea of slowing down a bit in January.
And with those thoughts in mind, here is what I want my January to hold!
- More poetry… I have three books from the library and I am excited to immerse myself in them!
- More slow stitching… I have unearthed the appliqué project from last year. I began a new year-long “free stitch” project as well, I am using this project with my morning coffee and journal time… it is fitting in well!
- More handknit socks… so I cast on my first pair on Friday using Carole’s Picot Edge Sock pattern… and have made incredible progress just knitting at night while we watch TV! (I might even have the first sock done by Wednesday!!)
- More spinning… so I have “reactivated” a reminder for two afternoons a week. I am hoping the reminder to “sit and spin” will help this become a habit!
This is an ambitious list for someone who wants a slow January… but I am mindful that the activities here are all slow… and that they will inherently slow me down so I can savor January days!
What about you? What are you saying hello to this month?
That is a very nice list and I love that photo! I’m concentrating on slowing down my reading. Last year I felt like I consumed some books like potato chips, but when I looked back I could barely remember reading some of them. I’ve got three NetGalley books in my queue so I can’t slow down too much, but I can at least pay attention.
I think you’re exactly right — they’re all slow activities. The thing, for me, is to be *in the process*, whatever the activity is, instead of being so focused on a product. That’s where I think year-long things come in beautifully (like Comfort of Crows, for example. And I’ve decided to slow my roll on More Delights. Because who wants THAT to be over?!)
Enjoy this January.
I’m saying Hello to ‘being open to different.’ Not sure what it means, exactly, but it’s been a palpable message. We’ll see if/how it shows up!
I naturally am saying hello to retirement! Woo-Hoo! There are so many things I want to do. and our calendar is already filling up for January and February (and I will still be working those months). Even though there are SO MANY things I want to do, I am looking forward to a slower pace as well. Not rushing anything. Taking my time. Noticing things. I have a feeling that 2024 is going to be grand!! To me, your list looks very peaceful. Enjoyable, slow-paced things.
I am also saying hello to slow. More of a mindset than an activity. Sometimes my head is like an eight lane highway at rush hour.
I think the weather this time of year often reminds us to slow down. Like you, I’m focused on activities that can’t be finished quickly, and so working on them feels like a bit of meditation. I like that at this time of year, there seem to be fewer demands on my time; there are the usual meetings and such, but we don’t have holidays and performances and travel. I feel like it’s a good time to take a breath.
My last external responsibility slid away from me last week — creating the monthly newsletter for the county party. I loved doing it once I got started every month, but I hated the responsibility. My January is going to be devoted to clearing up rat’s nests around the house — my bookshelves, my desk, my nightstand, my dresser top. I am looking forward to feeling like I have the time to do those things. No pressure, just floating along doing a little each day. (Although I do have two financial reports due in January, but both campaigns have (finally) spent all their money so I can terminate them — yay!)
Winter is a good time to slow down. I love the photo and the snowman mug at the top of the post. I look forward to seeing your slow stitching project. I plan to be mindful of yarn purchases and knit with some of the beautiful yarn in my stash. I am also trying to revitalize and reclaim my writing practice. Interesting you should write about slow stitching because as I spun this afternoon I thought about creating some kind of hand stitching project, either hand quilting or some kind of embroidery.
I love your January intentions! I am hoping that 2024 is the year I learn to spin. Still contemplating my first steps 🙂
The thought is always to do more and now, immediately, straightaway and it defeats the object. I have been really careful not to over do the goals this year. They don’t look like it, but they are realistic. I will never ever underestimate the power of sleep and time off from life. Slow is good. Happy slow January.
I showed up twice in your post, what a grand thing! I think your January plans sound perfectly lovely and slow. Enjoy!
I think choosing to focus on activities we’re most enthusiastic about is a great way to begin a new year! “Slow January” doesn’t mean doing nothing! It means doing what you do in an intentional way. And it sounds like you are on the just right path!
Since I’ve been under the weather, I haven’t thought much of my intentions this year but to be healthier, lol!! Love your list and may you be ultra successful.