Sunday Snippet: The How Did It Get to Be Mid-January Edition

Yeah, I really am wondering how it’s already January 17? Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving? Heck, wasn’t it just summer, for heaven’s sake? Time is going by too quickly. Basically, we’re hunkered down until we are both vaccinated and even after that, we’ll continue to be cautious. I feel as if we’ll all be coming out of our house this spring, blinking in the sunlight like people who’ve been trapped in a cave for months. And so perhaps we have in a way. But these are the last days of darkness, politically at least. We are looking into the light–I pray for the safety of every government official on January 20, those coming in and those going out. May it be a peaceful transfer of power.

I’ve been reading Simple Abundance again–I know I started last year, but I just couldn’t seem to do it. I don’t know why. But I’m trying again and so far for 17 days I’ve done it. It’s the first thing each morning, a way to start my day before I write for a couple of hours and then begin the day job. The gratitude thing is the one thing I find most helpful. On days, when I am overwhelmed at the tasks before me, when it feels as though I will never get to take a day just for me ever again, I remember that every day is mine if I let it be. I’m the one who doesn’t look for the joy.

So I’m working on finding the joy in the everyday. The ritual of making coffee in the morning, the scent of the beans as I grind them, the aroma of the coffee as it brews, and ah, that first sip… what joy that is and how lucky I am to have coffee available to me at the flick of a switch. This morning I woke to a snow on the ground and it was gorgeous, even though it barely covered the grass. I opened the front door and sniffed the crisp cold air and that set me up for the day.

I wrote about 750 words today, which finished another chapter in Max and Lauren’s book. That felt wonderful. Then for the rest of the day, I worked on an editing gig that’s due soon–got first pass all finished and will be able to do second tomorrow and third on Monday. Then I can turn it in. Monday is sprint day with a couple of fellow Tule authors. I always get a lot of words in when I sprint with other authors. And Liz and I will spend a morning putting together our workshop for the Indiana Writer’s Center. It’s coming up February 15, you know?

How blessed am I?

Stay well this week, stay safe, and most of all, mes amies, stay grateful!