I Owe You an Apology, February...

As I was slipping along on our road yesterday in route to the highway, the thought occurred to me...I've been badly mistaken now for a number of years. Time to come clean and publicly make my confession.

I owe the month of February an apology.

For years, I have told anyone within ear-shot that my least favorite month of the year is February. It seems if anything goes wrong, awry, or just plain wonky, it's in February.

I'm wrong...it's January that is to blame. It's been sitting there, quietly and smugly, allowing its neighbor on the calendar to take the hit of my frustrations.

Yes, January, you are the culprit here. High with good spirits left over from the holidays, I tend to drift right along--at least through the first half of January--with my good will toward men, things, and everything else. And then, after one too many icy or snowy days, my mood of good will starts to crumble a bit. Constantly changing schedules due to weather, precautions left and right for fear of frozen pipes or drains (and so many in the house--where did these all come from?), dressing in layer after layer of clothing in order to fortify oneself for the dreaded outdoors--this is what life becomes in January. Even though each day gains us a bit more daylight, the days are rare that afford us the chance to actually be outside and enjoy it.

So, by February, I'm just pretty much tired of the whole "winter wonderland" deal. And then I start disliking February. The whole, short little month. I've bad-mouthed this little month for years.

Time for me to come clean and make my formal apology...so, February, I apologize. This year I will put blame where it goes--on this bitterly cold month of January.

Just one thing, February...I'll be on guard...you can be back on the bad list quickly if you dump that white stuff and ice on us a little too much.

Wintertime

Wintertime is a rough time for many people. This winter has been particularly miserable for many with all the ice, snow, sub-zero wind chills, etc. These extremes in weather have caused a great many people to hibernate in their homes, many times against their better judgement. People are social and this weather doesn't encourage sociability. I've seen many folks--young and old and in-between--fall into a true case of the winter doldrums. It takes getting out, getting moving, and getting with others to turn this around. What to do in the meantime?
Remember all those lists compiled (either on paper or mentally) of things that we would be doing once we weren't out doing yard work, home repairs, vacations, etc.? How about tackling that list? Most people just look at the list and decide they're just not in the mood or don't have enough energy to do this. The truth of the matter is that we DO have just as much energy; our brains are just telling us otherwise. We're full of cobwebs this time of year. We need to feel a warm breeze, see a sprig of green, have a few more minutes of daylight. But we DO still have energy.
So...let's use that energy. Look at one item on the list. Re-arrange the photo albums? Clean out a closet and take the clothes to a local charity shop? Pick one job. DO IT. You'll feel great! Your energy will return, you'll turn the corner of cob-webbiness and, before you know it, you'll have many of these chores done just in time to step out into the first warm breeze and feel that spring sunlight on your face.
Have a fine day...