For the first fifty-five years of my adult life, or so, I was in the habit of saying “we just have to survive February.” All bets were off in February…if we made plans, I might show up…might not. All expectations of any kind of productivity were off the agenda. We got done what we got done, and that was that. No resolutions (silly) and certainly no diets – fortheloveofgod. Never mind trying to thrive. Survive it. Celebrate the first of March – you made it. Bonus!

Born and raised in Michigan, I am used to bitter cold, dark winters. I’ve even come to appreciate them. But about 2 or 3 years ago now I noticed a shift. February became January. Maybe it’s global warming. Maybe the poles shifted just a smidge. Maybe the planets aligned different in the heavens. I don’t care. January is much harder than February now. By February I’m noticing the days inching their way tentatively toward longer. I swear after this recent solstice the days got shorter, not longer. It has been a particularly dark winter with precious little sunshine.

So I will honor my body and rest. But deep inside something is beginning to sprout…