Biscuit crumbs in my keyboard
embracing snail-energy and sliding quietly into the new year
Happy new year!
How deep into January do we have to go before it’s no longer relevant to say that, I wonder?
Anyway.
As you might have gathered if you’ve been here for a bit, I tend towards the contrary in most, if not all, things. I’m particularly contrary these days1 about anything that pushes, shoves or attempts to hurry me along. Especially when it comes to the whole ‘new year, new you’ tomfoolery.
It’s winter here. In fact, right now we’re under a snow squall warning and the high winds have up-ended my little greenhouse for the second time in three days. It’s cold, the sun hasn’t shone in weeks and yes, there are biscuit crumbs (chocolate biscuit crumbs) in my keyboard.
So, no, I’m not “hitting the ground running”.
I prefer a slow, meandering stroll. And that’s only likely to start happening some time after Imbolc (February 1st), with peak speeds, such as they are, not being reached until after the Spring Equinox. For now, I’m still in a state of semi-hibernation and plan to luxuriate in that for a while longer.
That’s not to say I’m completely idle. I’ve been tinkering with this bloody Substack for what feels like days…well, it has been days. I thought I was going to change the name — which I did — then unchanged it again. I thought I was going to set up a separate publication for my field notes, then decided against it and instead sorted out how to make it visible (I thought I had, but apparently hadn’t).2 I briefly flirted with the idea of paid subscriptions then decided against it (for now…I’m still thinking about it).
I’m still writing my own redemption arc. (happy to report it’s in final editing stages).
I’m digging into some self-knowledge work so that when I do emerge, I can do so in a way that’s sustainable (more thoughts on that next time). Spoiler: there are apparently different types of introversion and those dictate how much certain activities drain a person. I know, right?
I’m also noodling over my notes for Hazel’s story having had a minor epiphany whilst walking the dog.
Oh, and I also wrote up this thing for you.
It’s from the second Light House gathering I led. This time it’s about moving into the new year with an eye towards how you’d like to be in 2024, as opposed to what you want to do. Yes, doing is important and many people are supercharged by the Doing Of Things… and many of us are not. Many of us are at a point where we’d like to focus, first, on the being.
Top tip: sorting out how you want to feel, generally leads to better outcomes when choosing what you want to do.3
Anyway. Because I’m me, I designed the exercise around writing a story using the Heroine’s Journey. People really liked it. You might want to try it.
As before, you’re very welcome to print/share. And I’d love to know how you get on.
Right, that’s it for now. I’m a day late getting this out (see: tinkering with this bloody Substack) but really, who’s keeping track?
My tea’s gone cold, the dog needs walking (but won’t want to go because it’s cold and windy) and I need to get groceries before the storm hits later today. What I’d really like to do is make a fresh cup of tea and retire to a comfy chair with a book.
Snail energy, my friends. Snail energy.
How is your year starting? Bear? Snail? Jack-rabbit?
~m. xo
I’ve always been this way, but only since embracing my privileges as a menopausal woman do I now act upon this contrarinesss with a degree of regularity.
Everyone is now automatically set up to receive notifications when I write to field notes. If you aren’t interested, you can change your toggle accordingly in the ‘manage subscriptions’ section under your profile.
Apropos of this, I do have some plans for this little Substack, based solely around how I’d like to feel looking back on it at the end of the year. That feels like a far more exciting metric to me. I will know if I’ve succeeded by how I feel…and, hopefully, how I’ve helped others feel. Radical, I know.
Greetings from another frigid area! Winter is good for all that. I like the concept of what you want to be instead of do. In some ways they are closely linked but it is very positive. And thanks for the un-work book! There's much food for thought there.
Energy: hopeful snail? How I want to feel in daily life is the more helpful measurement for me, too. Thank you again for the un-workbook and your fresh take on year-end reviews, Mel. I especially enjoyed creating my black-out poem.