"Our bodies live off of LIGHT. Now (winter) is not the time to take on big projects. Now is the time to let things die. Self- introspection is the name of the game now. Follow the seasons - pop a big project in the spring. Reflect in the fall." --Dr Mark Dunn, ND
I got this quote at a seminar I attended more than four years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. I have always felt this, that the whole Christmas/New Years/Holidays with a capital "H" thing was all out of whack. I am feeling it again right now, particularly right now.
January, in our culture, is all about new beginnings, resolutions, making plans and getting going. I don't know if I am the only one, but I am just not feeling it. Never have. Especially after all of the holiday busyness all I want to do right now is SLEEP. Rest. Lie in front of the fire. Read books. Watch TV. Be a total slug. Hibernate.
It is all I can do to get out of bed in the morning and I find myself sleeping later and later. Despite wanting - and planning - to get up at 6:00 AM and meditate or go to the pool before the kids wake up, I find myself lying in bed until 8:30 and then having to hop up and hurry them out the door. Even when I go to bed at 9:30 or 10:00 I can sleep until well past 7:00 these days.
Part of me is railing against this. "You need to exercise, you need to meditate, " I tell myself, but my Self does not want to listen. My Self wants to sleep.
As I reflect, I realize that it is this way every year. Every year I find myself swimming up stream, trying to fit a mold that doesn't really work for me, for my biology.
So I am trying to do it differently this year. Trying to let it be. Trying to go with the flow and wait to be ready to "spring" into action. I imagine it will happen sometime around March 22nd.
In the meantime, I am working on a plan for next year. For the holidays and beyond. To celebrate in a way that honors the season and my body. I wonder what that would look like?
I find it really strange that we think of the (sensible) tendency to rest up a little and slow down in winter a disorder. I think it's a jolly sensible tactic to get through the shorter days and cold weather. There are lots of lovely things to enjoy about winter -- and I appreciate them best when I am sufficiently rested.
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