January Blues

After winding down one year with holiday celebrations, big meals, time with loved ones, January is supposed to be that time when everything flares back to life and we all move forward into a fresh calendar of possibilities. However, January has recently been a month in which I feel like the world is moving way too fast and that if I could just press pause on everything for a day, maybe two, I could actually get into the rhythm of the new year.

January is equal parts celebrating a blank slate and becoming absolutely terrified that the slate is blank.

January encourages hibernation and goal-setting action in equal measure.

January promises a full year of fresh starts, making every set back feel like an omen of what the year actually holds.

January is the month when my executive function goes into a state of confusion. Sometimes it's a simple bout of analysis paralysis. Other times, I can feel the weight of everything I want to accomplish in the year while dealing with a burden of a day job or significant familial obligations or whatever new health hiccup my body has decided to express...and my brain just decides that maybe all I really need to do is let video games or books or shows completely consume all of my time so that the truly important things bubble up and force me to manage them without me having to actually think about silly concepts like "priorities" or "time management" or what have you.

Honestly, this type of January blues is probably simply a sign that I have ended a year and started a new one without a sufficient period of retreat and reflection. I have given self-care more lip service than actual attention and the new year looms so large and terrifying because I'm simply not ready for it.

And, like a fool, I scheduled an art fair booth session at the end of the month. My social battery absolutely melted into so much goo just an hour into day 2 of 3. For those of you who sent clear "yes, please talk to me" signals, bless you for taking pity on my poor depleted extroverted nature. For those of you hoping for some kind of engagement from me to kickstart a conversation about my art or your art or general life things, I am so sorry I was not there for you in that moment. I hope that you still enjoyed your stroll through our fair and enjoyed even a casual glance at my art.

Now it is February and I'm actively trying to get myself right with 2026. I have so many things happening this year, and I want to make sure I enjoy every moment of it and that I bring as many of you along for the ride as possible. I'm planning a little solo retreat in a couple weeks to help me shake off the last of any lingering January blues so I can embrace this year with all of its possibilities, opportunities, and, yes, even the challenges that will require so much to meet.