January Notes

by Anita Benedict

The advice of an author at a retreat I attended was to write what you know.

 I have millions of ideas floating in my menopausal brain but it is hard to commit to writing about just one.

 I celebrate getting a year older this month. Perhaps celebrate is a bit of an optimistic word. I am grateful for every birthday in that I am still alive, but this one is as hard as turning 30 was for me.

 I am now three years away from the big 60. How on earth did that happen? It was just yesterday I was running barefoot through the fields on an imaginary adventure. If I tried that now I would need a walking pole, sturdy shoes and would definitely not be running.

 Having a birthday in January means I won't have to worry about it the rest of the year. They say January is a month to rest, just like the earth needs rest. With the constant snow/rain/ice it does seem like the best time to hibernate. 

 However, as the days elongate, I can feel the restlessness to start planning the garden again. Time to order seeds. It will soon be time to begin the Just Words program again and new this year is a creative writing workshop partnership with Kids Action.

 Time rolls on and whatever this year has in store I shall make the most if it. The one thing I like about getting older is the fact that my give-a-damn about some things has pretty much busted permanently. That can be quite freeing.

 Time for some cat snuggles.