New Year Blahs
I might be alone in this, but it feels like I can’t do anything right when it comes to approaching the new year. Some people think it’s a great time to make resolutions, pick up a new hobby, or freshen up their routine in some way. Others seem to think setting resolutions or goals is almost a guarantee of failure. I think both beliefs are a lot like horoscopes: if you think they’re true, you will make them so. Anyway, I think reflecting on the year past and the one we’re starting is almost inevitable, and this can be a nice point in time to take stock of anything—even if it’s just the scary stuff in your pantry that hasn’t been touched in months to years.
One book I read on time management long ago recommended scheduling routine doctors’ appointments on your birthday because it’s the same date every year. Same idea with New Year’s Day.
All of that said, what I’ve been hit with is more of a case of the blahs. I just don’t want to do anything. Here in Colorado, we’re entering the coldest time of the year. Snow and ice are everywhere. My dogs love playing in it, but I see all that slush and just want to retreat to my bed.
Meanwhile, a lot of people are angry and frightened about the political climate. People are also concerned about the planet’s climate, especially when just about everything in Los Angeles is on fire. I wish I could share links to all kinds of sophisticated information from other sources to back this up, but this is largely my opinion, and Squarespace’s post composer kind of stinks. As someone who grew up in Los Angeles and still has friends there, my head hasn’t been completely “in the game” for the past week. It was stressful enough seeing the news reports. Then, a childhood friend and her family lost their home. Talk about feeling helpless! This all happened after two weeks that were mostly restful, but involved multiple migraine attacks and several trips to the vet for a dog’s ear injury.
As most people looking for therapy or in therapy understand, it’s the classic death by a thousand cuts scenario. The dog’s ear will heal. My friend and her family are safe and will get back on their feet. As for the poltics and the planet, things have been weird before and even at my most anxious, I know I only have so much control over any of that. However, it takes energy and bandwidth to deal with each of these things and they just pile on.
I’m not putting this out there to reinforce the idea that everything is hopeless. I actually don’t think things are hopeless at all, but if you are out there trying to just get through the week, I see you. I hear you. You are of my people, and I think you are so brave and fabulous for doing whatever little or big thing you did this past week. Maybe you’ll do more next week. Maybe you’ll do less. Either way, gold star for you for doing whatever your personal best is in the moment!
One thing that I am making a point of doing differently this year is prioritizing what makes me happy. Cuddling my dogs, binging cheesy horror movies, reading, writing, and supporting writers make me happy. Communicating with my representatives in Congress also makes me happy. While that might sound deranged to some, it’s not all about making enraged phone calls. A lot of it is saying thank you for voting on a certain bill a certain way or appearing on a TV show to help educate voters on certain policies and issues. When I make those calls, write those emails, or send postcards, I feel more connected with our democracy and with my community.
TL;DR You’re doing great. Nobody has to do everything, but we all need to do something.
