“Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our lives as they exist.” – Natalie Goldberg

These are my hard days. January has always been a long month with some recurring seasonal depression. The month is a minefield of sentimental dates: the date of my mother’s passing on January 14 and her birthday January 23; the January 25 birthday of my sister who passed 12 years ago; and the anniversary of the loss of a pet. And we all have things we’re struggling with that we don’t share. 

Also, it’s been cold. Really cold. So cold they closed the schools. So cold you could get frostbite in 10-30 minutes. Negative temperatures and wind chills. I’m a southerner living in rural southeast Wisconsin. I’ve generally had a great attitude about winter, but this year the extreme temperatures are making the hard days harder. 

To get I’ve pulled out all my tricks, tools and acts of radical self-care. Here’s what’s currently helping me: 

• Solid routines to support daily life. Finding joy in the daily tasks. I love the sunrise and morning light on my kitchen table with my books, journals and coffee. 
• A gratitude journal. Instead of writing in my main journal, I dedicated a special journal just for listing and writing about gratitude. Some people write in their gratitude journal at night. I prefer the mornings. It’s how I begin my morning writing sessions. Song lyrics and poems have come from it. It’s also a new creative support for me. 
• Morning reading so I’m taking in positive content:
  • Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy  by Sarah Ban Breathnach 
  • Reflections in the Light: Daily Thoughts and Affirmations by Shakti Gawain
  • Walking on Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers by Susan Shaughnessy
  • The Writer’s Devotional: 365 Inspirational Exercises, ideas, tips and motivations on Writing by Amy Peters
• Having a book or online course to focus on in my free time. Currently I’m reading and doing the exercises in The Way of the Fearless Writer: Mindful Wisdom for a Flourishing Writing Life by Beth Kempton. In November and December I did an online training for project management. 
• Exercise. For me, it’s Nia – a dance class I do through their app, NiaOnDemand, in my living room. I prefer a live class, but there aren’t any near me. It’s also very convenient and there’s a diverse selection of workout levels, class lengths, etc. 
• Eat well. Meal planning and prep are also self-care to help keep life simple and organized. 
• Stay connected – whatever that means for you: walks with friends, phone calls, postcards. Real mail is especially good karma!

The days are getting longer and the hard days end with my own birthday on January 29. I always enjoy my birthday and ignore all the negativity about aging. It’s a privilege I celebrate with a holy yes.