Finding Joy in January

January has been taking a lot of flak lately. I constantly see posts and tweets about how it’s a hard month full of broken resolutions, low energy, and depression. This makes me sad because January is often an enjoyable month for me, unlike February which was always really hard when I was a teacher and still causes a bit of dread. January and I get along fine, so in an effort to help you improve your relationship with the first month of the year, here are a few things I did this year to conquer January.

* Note: I realize January is currently ending, so this post may feel like too-little-too-late. But…
A) There’s always next year, and B) There’s no reason why these tips wouldn’t work in February, too.

Geek Out on Goals

I’m a planner. I looooove setting goals. Daily goals, weekly goals, monthly goals, yearly goals. January is a big deal for me because it means making my new planner for the year and starting with big-picture plans and narrowing down to the first daily tasks I want to accomplish. It takes me hours and involves many different colored pens, and I love it. I also like to make an ideal weekly plan that incorporates when I’ll write, when I’ll exercise, when I’ll do chores and errands and house managing, and when I’ll attend my various on-going meetings and events. This kind of scheduling is especially important when you’re self-employed and work from home because, in my opinion, structure is key to consistent productivity.

I firmly believe in goal-setting and taking the time to visualize the “perfect” day/week/month because being mindful about how I spend my time is the first step to actually using my hours wisely. However, I am also a firm believer in being human, and battling perfectionism is always on my to-do list, too. So, in case you haven’t already figured it out, let me say this loud and clear: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MEET ALL OF YOUR GOALS. Also, LIFE WILL CONSTANTLY GET IN THE WAY OF THE SCHEDULE YOU CREATE. And, DESPITE THE BEST OF PLANS, YOU MAY EVENTUALLY FIND YOURSELF IN DAY THREE OF EATING GOLDFISH CRACKERS IN YOUR PAJAMAS WHILE WATCHING THE GOOD PLACE.

But let me tell you something else: This is ok. Failing to meet a goal or getting sidetracked from your ideal routine isn’t the end of the world, and it doesn’t mean that setting those intentions in the first place was a waste of time. When you emerge from your TV tangent (wrinkled and covered in Goldfish crumbs) and you shower (don’t skip this step) and come back ready to try again, you’ll already have the structure you need to get started. The plan is waiting for you, ready for you to put it into action.

So I say, make those goals, set those intentions, create that ideal structure. When you mess up, don’t throw the whole thing out. Just come back, regroup, see where you left off, and start again.

Stop Spending

One goal I consistently set for myself in January is no spending money on myself, at least not frivolously. No clothes, no books, no random household items that catch my eye. (I can’t seem to stop buying lamps lately.) Some people do dry January (no alcohol) and some people give up caffeine at the start of the new year. I don’t do this because I don’t overindulge in alcohol during the holidays and how much coffee I drink is between me and the coffee gods. But I do sometimes slide down the icy slope of slippery spending in December. It starts with buying gifts for other people, and then I just happen to maybe see something (or somethings) that I would like to have for myself as well. Add this to the expense of Christmas trees and travel and “just a few more strings of lights” and it definitely puts a dent in the credit card.

Feeling broke in January is common and can easily bring a person down, but if you come at it proactively and set a goal to not buy anything, it feels more empowering. It’s not that you can’t buy that book, it’s that you’re choosing not to because you made a promise to yourself. Subtle difference maybe, but it changes the perspective for me.

Do I get tempted to break this goal during January? Certainly! Do I have a pair of pants in my Old Navy shopping cart and my eye on a lamp at Target? Without a doubt. Will I buy those things in February? Maybe and maybe not. I often find things lose their appeal after awhile. I’ll probably do some shopping in February, but I’ll be more discerning about it.

Pay no attention to the dog hair on my bolster and the kitten teeth marks on my blocks.

Be Active

My favorite way to get exercise is to get outside and walk or hike while talking to a good friend or listening to a good audiobook, but I also love to do yoga. Since January weather can’t be counted on to cooperate with outdoor activities, I decided to add more yoga into my life this month. I already have a lovely class at my local rec center taught by the wonderful Chrissy Cortez-Mathis (<– Check out her website to learn more about Chrissy’s yoga instruction, passion for nature, and upcoming mindfulness workshops!), but I wanted to add some more styles of yoga to my routine and practice with some new teachers as well. The desire to expand my yoga world led me to The Mat Yoga Studio, and I’m so glad it did.

You may be thinking, How did you join a new yoga studio while not spending any money on yourself? I made an exception. Spending money on improving my mental and physical health did not seem frivolous. Plus, The Mat has this phenomenal introductory offer where you get unlimited yoga for three weeks (both in-person and virtual classes) for only $39. There’s no contract, no commitment to purchase a pass after the introductory period ends. Just three weeks of as much yoga as you can fit in your schedule. It was awesome. I was able to practice different yoga styles with different teachers at different times of the week until I found the ones that were the right fit for me. (Though, I should mention, they were ALL good.) And yes, I am going to buy one of their passes now. But I don’t have to.

Whatever you do to stay active, try to make room for it in January. If money is tight, taking a walk is free, and luckily we have lots of nice January days here in Texas. (Although, today is not one of them.) If outdoor exercise isn’t your thing, look for a place that has a no-commitment introductory offer like The Mat or check out the affordable classes at your local rec center.

Seek Inspiration (And Maybe Find a Bit of Magic)

If you have a creative endeavor on your 2023 to-do list, you may need something to boost your creative energy and help you get back to the page or easel at the start of the new year. I always like to read a book about writing craft or a book of poetry to inspire me, and this year, thanks to Ashley B. Davis‘s recommendation, I found the perfect one.

I listened to the audio version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (from the library — no spending) and I loved it. This book did exactly what it was supposed to do: it made me want to write. The last part of 2022 threw some life challenges my way. While I was able to meet my deadline on a writing project and accomplish some small goals in November and December, simply writing and producing words and working on my own stuff didn’t happen. In January, I felt ready to jump back in, but I needed something to help me start. Big Magic was the perfect companion to get me to the page. Because of Gilbert’s enchanting mix of inspirational anecdotes and practical advice, I was able to break out of my rut and start writing again. I began writing first thing in the morning on most days, unexpectedly started a fun new project that’s keeping my brain engaged, and (most importantly) finally took a peep back inside that unfinished novel I’m determined to complete this year.

Big Magic may not be the right book to get you back into your creative groove, but I guarantee there’s a book, magazine, podcast, or meet-up that will give you the burst of inspiration you need to dive back in to your artistic pursuits. Look for it!

Dedicated Downtime

When making all these plans and setting all these goals, make sure you don’t overdo it. Schedule plenty of room for the activities that relax and refuel you. For me, that’s reading. I make time to read every single day (unless life gets in the way one day and I don’t get to– no big deal) but I set aside one block of time per week (usually on Saturday morning) to do nothing but stay in my pajamas, drink coffee, and read in bed. That scheduled time is just as important as the rest of my goals.

There’s nothing ground-breaking here, but if January got you down or if you’re dreading February, maybe give one thing off my list a try. Sometimes a small change can make a big difference.

What recommendations do you have for getting through your least favorite month? Share them in the comments!

(Uh) O Christmas Tree

Christmas could not have come at a worse time this year.

My kitten, Indigo, turned six months old on December 1st, and he and I both realized a few important things.

Upon turning half a year old, Indie realized that he had the power to jump straight from the floor to the top of the kitchen island. After learning this new fact, he proceeded to practice it several dozen times in a row until he had perfected the maneuver. Then, once atop the smooth wooden surface of the butcher block, he looked around and realized there was a whole new world up there, four feet off the floor, that consisted of counters and a stove, and—gasp—a sink! A sink with water to splishy-splash his furry paws in and dirty dishes to lick and small objects to knock into the garbage disposal. Oh, what a discovery!

A friend suggested lining the island with foil to keep the cat off.
It didn’t work.

My realizations were of a different nature. I realized that my kitten suddenly resembled a bottomless pit and that when he bit my ankles or sunk his claws into the thighs of my leggings when I was standing at the fridge, he was trying tell me he was hungry. Again. I realized that, according to online resources, I had not been giving his growing body enough calories, so I started feeding him more often. I also realized, according to those same online sources and a few more that I double-checked just to be sure, that my kitten is on the large side of normal or perhaps the small side of huge. The average six-month-old kitten apparently weighs about 6.5 pounds. Indie is already 9 pounds and still growing.

Nine pounds of furry, curious, clumsy, impulsive energy that is very adorable when it’s sleeping with its toesies in the air.

By themselves, these aren’t terrible things. I love big cats, and of course I want my kitten to have strong bones and muscles that allow him to leap vertically, right? No, the problem is not my kitten’s healthy size and newfound athleticism. The problem is that it’s December, and we just brought a tree into the house.

I truly believe Indigo is at the worst possible age for the Christmas season. If the holiday had arrived when Indie was still a widdle baby kitten, he might have knocked off an ornament or two. He may have nibbled a branch or chewed a ribbon off a gift. We would have found it adorable and taken photos for our Christmas card. On the flipside, a year from now, Indie probably won’t bother the tree much*. By then, he’ll be a year and a half old and, if his current growth continues unchecked, probably about 18 pounds**. He’ll likely just bat a couple of lightbulbs for tradition’s sake and then curl up on the couch with a book.

But Indie’s not a widdle innocent baby or a calm young adult this year. Right now, he’s the equivalent of a giant toddler who’s just discovered he has super powers. Therefore, our poor tree didn’t stand a chance.

Indie’s examination of our tree reminded me of the lessons I used to teach about prepositions. First, he went UNDER it. Then, he went AROUND it. Soon, he climbed IN it and made his way THROUGH it. He considered going OVER it, then decided to lay BESIDE it, before resolving to leap UPON it. After that, he celebrated by jumping ON TOP OF the tallest bookcase in our house and knocking some items OFF of it, then stretching ACROSS it in triumphant glory.

I will say, he slept great after all this.

Thankfully, I love kittens more than Christmas and, thankfully, my hubby loves me more than he hates the fact that we basically just bought a very expensive cat toy. This year, instead of gazing admiringly at our beautifully-decorated tree while peacefully watching a holiday movie on the couch, we will leave our favorite ornaments in the box and sigh at our sparsely-decorated tree while pausing our movie for the fifth time to untangle the giant kitten from the string of lights. Again.

And we will be happy. ❤️

* Please tell me this is not wishful thinking.
** I’m kidding about the 18 pounds thing. I hope.

Note: While I don’t advise pairing six-month-old kittens with the holiday season, I highly recommend old dogs. Old dogs and Christmas go together like hot chocolate and marshmallows.

This right here is a very good boy.

Gift Ideas for the Readers, Writers, and Coffee Drinkers in Your Life

‘Tis the season for searching for unique gift ideas for the people you love. If you’re lucky, there are some readers, writers, and coffee drinkers on your list, because they’re the best people. But what do those introspective introverts really want this year? Here are a few suggestions.

What do readers want? BOOKS, of course!

If you think October is the only month for spooky stories, you’re wrong. Did you know it used to be tradition to tell ghost stories on Christmas Eve? It’s true! Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is a perfect example, but dozens of other classic horror stories have a Christmas connection, including “The Kit-Bag” by Algernon Blackwood and Susan Hill’s haunting novel The Woman in Black. So consider giving the gift of fright this holiday season. For some bite-sized *true* ghost stories combined with local history, check out the Spooky America series. Although 8-12 year olds are the targeted age range for these books, anyone can enjoy them, and they’re the perfect size for a family read-aloud around the Christmas tree. Make the gift even more personal by purchasing a signed copy with a dedication. To order a personalized copy of The Ghostly Tales of Austin, The Ghostly Tales of New England, or The Ghostly Tales of Burlington, send me a message via my contact page.

Got a reader on your shopping list not interested in creepy stuff? Here are some other recent reads I recommend:

  • Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman – Amanda Gorman captured the nation’s heart in 2021 with her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb.” In this collection of poetry, she continues to demonstrate her brilliance with words as she expresses her feelings, hopes, and frustrations with our world. Relatable and beautiful, this book of poetry will challenge you and make you think, but at times it will also feel like a warm hug of support.
  • Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott – Philpott tackles some hard subjects in these essays, but she does so with a gentleness and humor that makes even the difficult things feel like they’re going to be ok. (And, usually, they are.) Beautifully written, the stories in this book weave back and forth through the author’s life while remaining connected to the thread of her teenage son’s struggle with a seizure disorder. I highly recommend the audio book.
  • The Tryout: A Graphic Novel by Christina Soontornvat – This middle grade memoir is so well done. It’s sweet, surprising, relatable, and so honest it will make you cringe in parts. Christina Soontornvat captures the complex friendships and challenges of middle school perfectly. Graphic novels are not usually my genre, but this one won my heart. Great gift for middle graders, teachers, and anyone who enjoys a good true story.
  • Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – Have you ever loved a book so much you couldn’t form a cohesive sentence about it? That’s how I feel about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I’ve been wanting to write a review of it ever since I finished it in August, but I can never decide where to begin or how to put into words the impact it had on me. The best I can do is just tell you to read it. Good fit for gamers and readers who love realistic fiction about complicated friendships with flawed but likable characters.
  • The Space Between You and Me by Ashley B. Davis – Got a reader on your list looking for magic, angst, and LGBTQ romance? Give them the chance to curl up with a warm beverage and indulge in some time spent with Jonah and Apollo. The heart-wrenching relationship between these two teenagers trying to find themselves and each other while also protecting their clan will delight fans of Carry On and the Twilight series.

One more idea…

Image from https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookishBaublesGifts

If you’re shopping for a reader but aren’t sure what they want to read next, consider getting them something to remind them of their favorite books. These ornaments filled with tiny books are adorable and can be personalized with the titles of your choice. Sneak a peek at your friend’s Goodreads page, scope out which books they’ve rated highest, and make a one-of-a-kind decoration filled with their favorites that they can enjoy year after year.

But writers are so hard to shop for… Not true!

Whether you’re looking for something practical or whimsical for the writer in your life, I’ve got you covered with these suggestions.

Give a gift that keeps giving.

I’m a big fan of Writer’s Digest magazine. I’ve been reading it for years and continue to find the articles, tips, agent spotlights, and writing exercises engaging and useful. I can honestly say that two of my published stories would not even exist, much less be published, if not for an inspirational article or writing prompt from Writer’s Digest. Consider giving your writer friend a subscription. That way, every month they will receive a new volume of writerly advice to fuel their muse, and they’ll think of you each time.

Another great gift to give a writer, especially one just starting out in their career, is a good review. Take the time to jot down some positive notes about their book on Goodreads or Amazon or on your favorite social media sites. A little good publicity can go a long way, and I promise your writer friend will appreciate the kind words.

Practical, shmactical. Get them something fun.

Image from https://www.etsy.com/shop/WickandSarcasmShop

Authors get super nerdy when it comes to office supplies, so consider getting your favorite writer some new tools of the trade. Spoil them with a fancy fountain pen from GoldSpot or spend a little more on this unique “Inkvent” Calendar (an advent calendar filled with tiny bottles of ink) that they can enjoy all throughout the holiday season.

Then again, writers deserve their breaks. You can also give them something to get them away from the desk for awhile, like a basket of bubble bath and chocolate or a bottle of their favorite wine. Add this funny “First Draft” candle for an additional dose of fun.

When in doubt, start with coffee…

Readers and writers have a lot in common, and one trait many of them share is a love of caffeine. If you’re not sure what books or writing utensils the people on your holiday list would enjoy, you may want to go back to the basics: COFFEE.

Magnificent mugs and creative cups.

I believe a person can never have too many coffee cups, so I say buy your loved one a new vehicle for their caffeine.

At my Etsy shop, Pumpkins & Poetry, I have a variety of coffee cups that appeal to readers and writers, such as two that display book title poems, and one that shows images of delicious lattes. (A coffee cup covered in coffee cups. That’s deep.)

Also, I know I’ve mentioned them on my blog before, but I highly recommend Creature Cups. They are cute (or creepy depending on which animal you choose) and the mugs are high quality and easy to wash in the dishwasher despite the decorations inside.

Start the new year off right.

My last gift suggestion is one that will delight its recipient all year long: the 2023 Comfy Cozy Coffee Calendar. This wall calendar (which comes in 8.5×11 or 12×12) includes twelve months of photos of delicious lattes, cozy coffee shops, and books. It’s the perfect decoration to hang in any reader or writer’s office to fuel them with inspiration and remind them of important deadlines.

*

There you go! Shopping list done! Shipping times can be unpredictable these days, so order early to avoid delays. (<– Whoops! I rhymed there by accident!) Oh, and if YOU are the reader or writer or coffee drinker in your life, it’s totally ok to order these things for yourself. You deserve to be pampered, too. 📚🖊️☕😊