One of the things I like about January is that my schedule slows down – sort of. Instead of having something to do every day, I have things to do every other day. Some days are doubled booked but it is not as bad as during the month of December.
This past Saturday, for example, I dropped my daughter off to enjoy a day with the Girl Scouts as they kick off their annual Cookie Sales. In the morning my husband took in a local boat show with a neighbor so I had our kids plus the neighbor girl who spent the night. There was game playing with Lego Batman Wii and hair being brushed into designs. We picked up items for supper (Muenster cheese and bread for grilled cheese sandwiches) and I dropped the girls for their big trip. Then in the afternoon I was able to leave the house, sans kids, and do what I needed to do.
Image by Jentsoi
It was great. I stopped in a local resale shop that has great clothes, got my hair cut, picked out paint chips, pick up a present for my parents (from which last month’s brake job took money), stopped in the fabric store, picked up newspapers and rented dvds. Four hours of going around town doing what I needed to do at my own pace.
As much as we all like the holiday season, I believe there is a collective sigh of relief somewhere around epiphany. The holidays are over and there are no more forced celebratory gatherings till “The Big Game” or Valentine’s Day. No more egg nog or fruitcake. The champagne is all gone and the christmas ornaments have been put away for the next 11 months. There is a relief in knowing we can go at our own pace and not at dictated events.
Granted, there are a few things to the schedule. We have one child in volleyball. We have friends with children in basketball. Those winter sports will keep us active but not frantically so. We will have time to just relax and maybe take a nap.
It might be rude to admit but I am looking forward to that step down in busyiness.
How is your January schedule looking?
Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
You just sound so comfortable and content. Yes, after the frenzy the slowdown is welcomed.
I think I heard that deep sigh of relief from here.
for a few years now, Hubbs has given me a massage gift certificate as a Christmas present. I love to use it on a lazy, dark January day … On one of those days that nothing exciting is on the horizon, much less the sun.
I’m glad you’re able to enjoy the break from the busy 🙂
MJ
I like the idea of a massage. I gave myself a pedicure and my toes are a happy red right now.
Well you know i kind of duck the whole busy ness of christmas, but now that everyone is back where they should be I can come back out of my burrow and yes.. sigh!! c
Right now is about the right amount of busy although I could drop one or two more activities.
Big sigh here too! In fact, I’m enjoying the relief so much that I’m thinking of giving up some things so that I can keep this relaxed pace.
…of course a busy December goes without saying in the church world. January brings its own fun though; So I haven’t found life really slowing down just going in a different direction. I have found a little more time to read and I am so thanklful I popped in on your blog today to remind me to put the brakes on a bit. It has to be intentional. Hey I also wanted to say I have enjoyed reading you so much I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award. I don’t know if you do awards or not but I just wanted you to know how much your work has blessed me!
You’ve got the right idea! A couple of years ago I studied the Mayan culture and their calendar. The time between the Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox is a time of rest and contemplation for the year ahead. They followed the agrarian/earth cycle rather than the Gregorian calendar.
I love the slower pace of this time of year and even try to tone down the holidays to fit with the theme of rest and contemplation. Spring is the time of awakening…