relaxation

New Year’s Eve

I love treating NYE as a mostly regular night.

It feels like mixing the magical and the mundane to be journaling and drawing while people set off fireworks.

I’m not usually a fan of the saying ‘start as you mean to go on’ because I don’t usually know how I want to go on but this time I am certain:

I plan to spend this year going easy on myself and doing things on my own terms.

That works for this evening and it works for 2025.

A relaxed Monday is strange but good

Last Monday, I was still getting things ready for Christmas. I was running errands and picking up gifts and making mental lists.

This Monday, I am sitting in a comfy chair covered in a blanket, reading and drinking tea.

I have stuff to do later, but it’s mostly things I’ve chosen to do today instead of at another time.

So, the idea of a relaxed Monday is kind of weird, but the practice of a relaxed Monday is pretty damn good.

I’m pretty sure Khalee agrees.

A dog snoozes in a chair
A photo of my light haired, medium sized dog, Khalee, snoozing on an oversized burgundy leather armchair. There is a Christmas wall-hanging of a lit red candle and a poinsettia and leaves on the wall above the chair back.

Seen on Today’s Walk

We’ve had a dusting of snow a few times this past week (including Xmas day- yay!) and I was delighted to see the trees lightly frosted today.

It’s like icing sugar on a treat.

A photo of trees and long grass lightly covered in snow.
Image description: a photo of evergreen trees and some long, yellowed grass. The trees are dusted with snow and there is snow on the ground with the grass sticking out of it.

New Year Ritual

I lit a fire in my backyard, fire pit and burnt bits of paper with things I want to let go of written on them.

Will it help?

I don’t know. But what I do know is that it felt good and powerful and that is a good enough start for me.

A fire in a backyard fire pit
Image description: a square fire pit, surrounded by snow, the flames inside look warm and vibrant.