Grey clouds loom over a dark, dreary land. The trees, barren and shivering in the cold anxiously await the arrival of spring. Maybe where you live snow has piled up in the driveway and frigid wind presses against the house. Christmas and New Years are long gone and attempts to keep New Year’s resolutions are fading. Winter is in full swing.
Personally, finding inspiration for writing at the beginning of February is difficult. Everything is well…grey. Thinking back over my life, I don’t have many memories of February other than receiving gifts on Valentine’s Day. School was back in session, and we counted down the days until Spring Break. Hum-drum days, ritualistic, scheduled, routine, melancholy.
As an adult, I have learned to appreciate a good routine. Some call it a rhythm. There is something to be said about the predictable. We can anticipate the day-by-day activities that keep us moving, keep us sane. For me, my job as a NICU speech-language pathologist is anything but routine. Each day is different. It comes with both the expected and the unexpected. I think that’s one reason I love my quiet morning routine of waking early to read my Bible, drink coffee and pray. It grounds me before heading off to the chaos of my day.
But for many, the depths of winter can bring depression and sadness. The sun hides behind the clouds. Time ticks on in melodic rhythm, moving at snail’s pace as they long for the warmth of happier times and the joy that is spring.
So how do we combat the doldrums of winter?
Establish rhythms that bring you joy. Rebekah Lyons shows you how in her book Rhythms of Renewal. Rebekah talks about the rhythms rest, restore, connect, create. Check out her book and website here:
Here’s how I plan on implementing these rhythms…
1) Filling my house with flowers and candles. Bringing beauty into my home brings me joy and reminds me of the bountiful blessings God has given us.
2) Continuing to connect with my people. Movie night, game night, date night. I plan on finding ways to continue to connect with my people on a regular basis.
3) SOUP! There’s nothing like walking into a house on a cold, dreary day to a pot of soup that has been cooking in the crock-pot all day. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup—you can leave out the chicken and add more beans for a yummy plant-based version!
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a82077/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup/
Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Soup—I like to substitute Italian sausage or deer sausage for a slightly different taste, but the original is good too!
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11374/hamburger-soup/
4) Finally, good books! I love curling up with a good book, especially when it’s cold outside. Some of the books currently on my reading list include:
Live by Sadie Robertson
A Surrendered Life by Rebekah Lyons
At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof
Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin
The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox
Whatever you are doing to get through the mundane days of winter, I hope you will find joy and peace! Happy February!