January is when we realize that the bills, the deadlines, and other unpleasantness we put aside for the holidays are still waiting. They didn’t disappear when we turned the last page of our 2012 calendars and entered the new year.
The color palette outside makes me realize that as much as I admire those clean-looking, all white interiors in design books, I could never, ever live in one. Even a pink-ish sky at sunset looks cold and lonely.
There’s nothing like January, with its anemic sky, dirty snow, and “clean slate” reputation to make you take stock and focus. In fact, focus is one of my key words for 2013. I’ve never been one to write down New Year’s resolutions, so this is a first.
It’s time to rein in my dilettante tendencies, stop dabbling, stay off the internet, avoid the TV, and write more, read more, listen to more music, and do all of it with the intensity I had as a girl. Back then, my mom amused herself by saying nonsensical things to me while I was reading, just to see how long it would take to pull me back from wherever the book had sent me. In fact, it took several minutes before her voice would penetrate my fictional world and I’d look up, blinking as though awakening from a deep sleep.
These days, my eyes are on the book, but my brain is elsewhere — worrying about friends, thinking about the laundry, or anxiously tallying the balance in our bank account.
Gone too are the days when I would lie on my bed for hours listening to music, so fully caught up in its emotion that the world outside my bedroom walls ceased to exist.
Sometimes, often, writing pulls me into the “zone” where I am so engaged with the words that I forget about time, that loaf of bread I’d meant to start, or my loved one’s need for civilized conversation.
I want to transfer that intensity into other domains: to do more, feel more, know more. But I can’t do any of that without fully committing to the task at hand.
There are other words on my 2013 list as well, but first I’m going to concentrate on focus. The white days of January seem like a good time to start.
What about you? What are your words for 2013?
Shifting Gears 
This is such a beautiful post, Judith. I love the image of the young girl looking up from her book, still in the thrall of the story. Focus is a good word for 2013. Find the passions and stay with them.
I have found my passions. It turns out that they were there all along, but I have only just realized over the past couple of years that they are valid and should be pursued. If you haven’t yet read it, I highly recommend Zadie Smith’s article in the December 17 New Yorker, “Some Notes on Attunement,” it gave me some valuable insights.
A fantastic post and so beautiful as well. Well, now I will need to think about my word, although I might just share yours as those are all goals that are dear to my heart as well…
Heather, Another big word for me is “sustainable.” As in finding work and establishing a way of living that will sustain me in the years to come. Thank you for your comment — feeling like we are all in this together is one thing that definitely “sustains” me.
And me, Judith. You have been so incredibly fantastic and just…you! How I do appreciate it–yes, it makes me think that more is possible than I would have thought.
Gros Bisous,
H
This is beautiful, Judith. I love the idea of fully embracing your passions and getting lost in those things that bring you the most joy and nourish your soul. I also have three words for 2013 — though one of them is still bubbling to the surface. But courage and intention are the first two. I want to be courageous both in my business and in my relationships (which also implies that I want to allow myself to be more vulnerable, to ask for help when I need it and to put my heart right back out there on my sleeve). I also want to live with intention; to be intentional about how I spend my time and where I invest my energies. Perhaps all of this is to say that I am taking responsibility for creating my life. And “create” just might be my third word for 2013!
Erica, I love the idea of “intention.” Living intentionally is another aspect of “focus.” Creating our own “luck,” and realizing that we do make choices is also part of taking responsibility for creating your life. And as for ‘courage,’ we could all use an injection of that. I need the courage to take risks and to make mistakes, even to fail, without self-recrimination. As we both know, mistakes and failures teach us the most important lessons.
Beautiful Judith. I personally love this time of year and the color palette. It gives me permission to go inside and get all cozy – with my comforter and also with my ideas and plans. My words for this year are: “core: stability and strength”. These apply to my physical and emotional well being as well as my business. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, too, Cheryl! Those are all great words, too. But here I have to rein myself in and continue to focus on “focus!”
I have always loved January for its quiet and its cold. I love the feeling of coming down off the wild ride of the holidays and settling into a wintery den, all tucked away and cozied up.
Of course, many of my January days are still filled with deadlines and errands, chores and bills; but somehow January seems to grant us permission to slow down just a little bit – regroup, reassess, reconsider.
More than any other time of the year, January feels like a time for dreaming. Like the animals who occasionally unfurl from their furry spirals beneath the frost, I feel this is a time to stretch languidly, to stir in my waking sleep and maybe hang on to a piece of whatever dream has been running through my head.
Like you, my girlhood days were filled with books and art and music. My grown up life has not always had as much room for the unhindered and guiltless enjoyment of those treasures, but I am starting to learn the value of putting the world aside for a while so that I can immerse myself in a story or a drawing or a piece of music … in listening, reading, or creating. I think of these moments less in terms of focus than in terms of surrender – surrendering to the things I love, giving myself to the moment,
I wish more of that for each of us in 2013 … and beyond.
XO
Lovely, lovely, thoughts Jamie. Thank you so much for sharing them here. And, of course, you realize that you are the one who planted the seed for this post! You are right, we were unhindered and guiltless as we dove into these “pleasures” as girls, and I also like your conception of January as a time to unfurl, take time to stretch, and dream. Perhaps, that white palette is what gives us the space and context for doing so.
My pleasure, Judith. 🙂 And I’m tickled to know that our little exploration of “intentions” and planning may have helped spark this post.
Here’s to stretching and finding our way through these white days.
Your photos are beautiful Judith and really capture the winter months in New England. January is a strange month-a transitional month back to reality. Focus seems like a perfect word to ease the transition. Wishing you a wonderful 2013!
Happy 2013 to you, too, Lori. Part of my focus is to continue working with people like you to keep everyone else FOCUSED on climate change. May we make great strides with that this year.
I really loved this post, Judith. Wish I had time to contemplate the year ahead. I have a few big intentions to concentrate on.
On train to NYC. Meeting with Angela Fox (Mother’s Project and Josh Fox’s mother) later today and the MCAF website team tomorrow at D’s.
I got your note about visiting NY. I’ll try to come into the city on that Fri. And meet with you.
Take care and Happy New Year! Ronnie
I have so many thoughts as I read this post for the third time. Focus seems to be a word that might be helpful in my world. To be accountable to myself for those things I have done and not done.
Your writing is beautiful. Such a precious memory of your mom! How blessed you are.
We will talk soon.
Cheryl, yes, I can imagine that you may be struggling to overcome a foggy brain for reasons that totally make sense. Looking forward to talking soon!
Judith… that one simple word is brilliant… focus… to do that would mean so much and to change so much… I am going to try and follow your example… Thank you… xv
Vicki, don’t get too focused — at least not on fewer things on your amazing blog. I want all of it!
Wonderful conversation. January is a regrouping month for me. This year my word is “simplify”.