Sometimes it's hard to stay positive in certain months of the year and I always find November and January really hard going.
The build up to Christmas and then the anti climax in January of a previous month that has been full on and chocka block with family, celebrations, over indulgence, parties, expectations, being over whelmed and so much more.
January is particularly hard for me.
I feel drained and tired, counting down the days until it's light again in the evenings.
Don't get me wrong I do love this dark time of the year with its cosy and snuggling, wrapping up warm, open fires and crisp crunchy walks where you can see your very breath - there is something truly magical about this time of the year.
Saying all that, I still struggle with November and January. They seem to go on.....forever.
So with the onslaught and build up of Christmas fast approaching I've been trying to take it a little slower this week, to just stop and pause and appreciate all that is good (on a daily basis) in this month of November.
I'm hoping to (remember) do the same in January.
So here goes ::
Throwing opening the curtains of a morning and not knowing whether it's going to be a glorious day or if we are going to be shrouded in fog and mist for the whole day.
Still being able to wear my MJ's and drink my morning coffee (on the nice days) outside in the sunshine - no coat, hat or gloves required.
Seeing daisies still pushing their way up and through the lawn and admiring the droplets of dew that gather and collect on any possible vessel.
The contrast of colours - golden leaves and crimson berries that laden and weigh down branches eagerly and rapidly being gobbled up by hungry birds all fattening up for the cold season.
Berries are normally my marker for the season (old wives tale) and they are in their abundance this year. So when is it going to get really cold?
Buying cheap red carnations on my supermarket shop and arranging them in vases with dark green holly freshly cut from the garden.
Twinkling fairy lights are starting to adorn the darkest of corners in our home, lighting and brightening up our way.
And finally (so far this week) an armful of clementines - still with their leaves on - filled full to the brim in an old vintage glass bowl scenting the front room in a zesty and seasonal way.
And talking of scent - my 'other' favourite at the moment is mandarin, clove and cinnamon oil bought from M&S about a fortnight ago and using it to buff up the hearths in my usual daily way.
Still being able to wear my MJ's and drink my morning coffee (on the nice days) outside in the sunshine - no coat, hat or gloves required.
It's so mild.
Seeing daisies still pushing their way up and through the lawn and admiring the droplets of dew that gather and collect on any possible vessel.
Whether it be a fallen leaf or blade of grass.
The contrast of colours - golden leaves and crimson berries that laden and weigh down branches eagerly and rapidly being gobbled up by hungry birds all fattening up for the cold season.
If it ever comes!
Berries are normally my marker for the season (old wives tale) and they are in their abundance this year. So when is it going to get really cold?
Buying cheap red carnations on my supermarket shop and arranging them in vases with dark green holly freshly cut from the garden.
It's that red berry and green foliage look that appeals to me.
Twinkling fairy lights are starting to adorn the darkest of corners in our home, lighting and brightening up our way.
And finally (so far this week) an armful of clementines - still with their leaves on - filled full to the brim in an old vintage glass bowl scenting the front room in a zesty and seasonal way.
And talking of scent - my 'other' favourite at the moment is mandarin, clove and cinnamon oil bought from M&S about a fortnight ago and using it to buff up the hearths in my usual daily way.
November - a month to appreciate for all it has to offer.
Do you suffer in the same way as I do?
Do you suffer in the same way as I do?
xXx
24 comments:
I can cope with the cold as long as there is light but I don't do well on dismal days. I like November as I don't get involved in the commercial Christmas thing so have no stresses. December is the month I dislike most but it does have one of my favourite days in it - 22nd - Yule. Then it is down hill to the lengthening of the days.
Your images are lovely, again.
The answer is yes! Me too! Although, I have to say I loathe December too, more so than November and January. November I start to panic....then I get depressed at the constant greyness of the days....December I loathe....I hate the crowds everywhere, I hate that I rush everywhere and don't get to enjoy what should be a very enjoyable month.....and January, it's that deflated feeling combined with cold and grey again. At least though in January, you can start to look forward to spring and I find that cheery! Gosh, don't I sound like a real depressive! Sorry! Just wish I could close my eyes and make December vanish! Grumpy thing that I am!!!!!
Gorgeous photos though Nina...I could stare at them all day.....must get something done today though!
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Good for you Nina in finding the positive stuff even if it's hard going. I find late Jan and early Feb a complete drain, Christmas is well behind us but spring still seems and age away.
I do love, love, love November though for all teh reasons you describe. I love to snuggle in and the novelty of that is still very strong for me through November. December whizzes by so bloomin' quickly with so much to do that I don't often get chance to sit back and enjoy the cosy side of things enough, therefore November is the perfect time to do it for me.
Thanks so much for the delightful cards. They came yesterday (beautifully wrapped and what a genius idea the stickers are!). I've stashed them away now but they'll be adorning my home in the next couple of weeks. Can't wait. They're beautiful, thank you.
Stay cosy, not long to go until December now.
Stephx
I too struggle with all these dark and grey days. I don't like this time of year much, if I had my way I'd erase them off the calendar lol. But the kids are getting excited about Christmas of course and then January for us is birthday month so that whizzes by very quickly. I find Feb and March a struggle sometimes with the hope of Spring almost there but still out of reach. I do joke that we should spend one half of the year here and then as soon as Autumn comes zip off to the other side of the world and never have Winter again!
Ali
:)
Hi Nina,
Loving your pics as ever! And congratulations and good luck in your new venture. Sorry I haven't got round to you before.
Well I have to say January is the month I struggle with the most. I think for the usual reasons that Christmas has been and gone and any real plans for the year seems an age away. Although I will admit I have struggled with November this year. Not because of the usual reasons of grey days, they dont really bother me at this point in the year but because it has been so mild. I truly feel all out of sorts and sequence! Strange creatures that we can be! lol. I love very cold crisp days with a little sunshine to brighten things up! I love the things that have helped you to feel better about November they all sound very much worth taking a pause to savour.
MBB x
This is all simply beautiful Nina - so well put and gorgeous photos as ever...
Sarah x
I too used to find the grey- low light days so depressing --November to February really hard going but now, well the last year- instead of finding it a dread i try and enjoy it- not everyday is so easy, but i've started to embrace the dark n cosy times...i do suffer with depression- its a battle to see any light some days, but i've really found having a book- writing positive thoughts and looking back on that book when i feel on a low eb through the winter a really good thing. I do think expectations on a mother are so high tho to get the gifts, all the shopping - prepare everything- i loathe the shops around december, so try my best to start a bit earlier. luckily this year i dont have the family to cook for im going to spend it with my twinnys family instead with sweet pea...so that worry is taken away.
we've all decided to be more strict on present buying- as it gets way to expensive. So trying to think of positives at the moment - i do love christmas seeing childrens faces and chatting over christmas lunch with loved ones...but the come down after christmas can be hard for me...guess its taken each day as it comes xx
love your photography by the way xx
Its really odd but this is the first year I've not suffered with the shortening of the days - perhaps because I've got so used to spending so much time at home, alone that I'm less bothered? Also the whole christmas build up is happily passing me by - if I only get into town once a week I concertrate on what I need to be there for rather than the pre-christmas madness.
Your photos are enough to cheer anyone up during the dark days - I must get round to ordering some :)
Dearest Nina
I find January the absolute hardest, the bleak grey foggy days do nothing for my soul. I tend to avoid going to big towns/cities shopping in December other than food shopping. I like to pootle around my little local town as it doesn't get too crowded with people pushing and shoving and grabbing. I hate all the excess eating and over indulging people do and all the commercial sides to the Christmas buildup.
We have a lovely holiday booked for April next year which will really help with me trying to stay focused on surviving January! I guess it is all about embracing the little things to keep ourselves cheerful, like all your gorgeous nature photographs xox take care x
No, you are not at all alone. November is defintely the hardest month of the year for me. I find the excitement of Christmas generally keeps me going in December and by January, I have finally adjusted to the season. Snow and sunshine seem to help keep the winter blues at bay once we hit January even if its -20C!
Finding joy in the small things is always a good cure for winter blues isn't it.
For myself it's August I loath, because of the heat ... I'd be happy in 20 degree max world! November, December and January each are special in their own way and I love them all.
I have just been editing a book which said that November was known as suicides' month in 19th century Liverpool, because of the grey and the fog. I can manage November, but January and February are the pits - that is when I really struggle.
Pomona x
I find January hard to cope with. There is something about the lack of day light that gets to me.
Stunning photography as always!
June
january I find a difficult month especially after the decorations come down- it looks bare. You have found lots of things to be glad of for this November.
Love, Love, Love the pics with the leaves and water drops....
What gorgeous photographs.
I am finding that November is flying by - maybe because of the mild dry weather we've been having. Contrary to most people I don't mind January so much as February. I loathe February - the New Year optimism has faded and there's nothing to look forward to. It's a good job it's short!
february is my worst month....you get through the winer and then still have to get through february...Lindt chark salty chocolate helps me get through most months!!!
Some beautiful pics again - my favourite is the solitary leaf.
Yes! I feel the same way about those two months, so relieved that I am not alone! Now I feel inspired by your words and photos not to let these months get the better of me.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post.
Have a lovely day.
I don't do well in January particularly, leading up to New Years I find really hard. I think after all that build up to Christmas and then the cold and dark and not knowing what the year will hold... I always find there is so much pressure out there about New Years resolutions, can't be doing with that, I prefer to have them through the year day by day. Loving your fairy lights, think I may have to put mine up already too to bring some light to these darker days. Your photos are really stunning. Hugs, Catherine xx
You sum it up very well Nina, I and my Mum feel exactly like this. In fact my Mum got a light box perscribed by the Drs once and it did help a bit. The light (if we see any!) can be lovely at this time of year and great for photography :-) I do miss pottering in the garden and taking snaps though, oh how I really do miss that :-( xxx
I used to find October tricky and when I was in a particularly stressful job my own feelings seemed to be exaccerbated by the fact that so many other people also seem to be edgy during the time up to the clocks changing.
For the last several years I've found Christmas bitter sweet as it marked the end of another year in which life hadn't turned out the way I'd hoped. Yet strangely I've never struggled with January and find I have a really positive up energy at the start of a brand new year. We have a tradition of going for a walk on New Years day with friends to set the right tone for the coming year and any changes I commit to making for the months ahead I stick to better throughout Jan - March than at any other time of year. This Christmas and New Year will be our best yet of course with only 2 weeks to wait until our long awaited baby will be born. Lots of joy all round in our family for a month that would normally not have a lot going for it :o)
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