January is the warrior month,” writes Vivian Swift in her gorgeous hand-lettered book When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler’s Journal of Staying Put. She continues, “It takes a warrior to soldier through these cold, dark, harsh January days.”
Indeed it does, especially for me this year. Maybe for you, too?
Well, even a peaceful warrior needs to be well armed. Here, a quick round up of my own best defenses.
Knowing I’d be mostly homebound and recuperating from surgery in January, hobbling around on crutches rather than trekking through the woods on my snowshoes, I decided to gird myself for the warrior month by creating a bit of structure for my days. The healing journey requires patience, but it’s also turned out to be an opportunity to enjoy some special treats for both body and soul.
Of course, you may simply be recuperating from the demands of life itself. Reason enough, certainly, to treat yourself! So do come along, and enjoy these simple pleasures with me.
A friend sent me When Wanderers Cease to Roam before my first hip replacement in October: the perfect gift to uplift and inspire me as I settled into my new mindset of “staying put.”
Following a lifetime of exploring around the globe and racking up twenty-three temporary addresses in twenty years, Vivian Swift finally landed for good in a small town on the edge of Long Island Sound. She spent the next decade quietly taking stock of her life, studying the view beyond her window, and reflecting on what it means to call a place home. The result is this enchanting, wholly idiosyncratic chronicle of a year of paying attention – an intimate and charming mish-mash of diary entries, watercolor paintings, recipes, quotes, poignant longings and astute observations.
I’ve already bought and given away four more copies of When Wanderers Cease to Roam. If you’ve ever yearned for life in the slow lane, if you’ve deliberately chosen deep roots over far-flung adventures, or even if you find yourself unwillingly homebound for a while, I can assure you: this is your book.
Some days ‘staying put’ might feel the same as Going Nowhere. Make a cup of tea and wait for that feeling to pass.” ~ Vivian Swift
Good advice. My tea of choice this month is chai, that warming, spicy Indian blend of black tea laced with cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. Sure, you can make your own. (My favorite recipe is here.) Or you can take a short-cut with one of these delicious and authentic organic blends. For tea bags, I like Nature’s Cuppa. When I’m brewing a pot to share or want to linger over a spicier cup, I use Chai-Wallah’s blend, created by a small family company in Vermont.
Without too much on my plate, I figured that January would be a perfect time to welcome a new habit into my life. I love the idea of beginning the day with a few good sentences rather than a scan through Facebook or a peek at the emails that arrived while I was asleep. A daybook makes it easy, with a reading for each day of the year. I bought two copies of A Year with Rilke, since sharing this daily reading journey with a friend doubles the pleasure. Rilke’s reflections on impermanence, the beauty of creation, the importance of solitude, the presence of the divine in daily life, all resonate deeply, especially now. Each morning I look forward to the few minutes I spend with this trusted guide who challenges me to think deeply and to be more fully present in my life. And as I learn to accept the truth of existence – that nothing lasts – Rilke reminds me that it takes a special kind of courage to love the things of this world anyway, without reserve, and to believe that praising them is our highest calling.
Praise, my dear one.
Let us disappear into praising.
Nothing belongs to us.”
~Uncollected Poems
It’s been over a year since I either taught or attended regular yoga classes. A year in which I’ve practiced diligently but mostly alone, giving myself a graduate level course in modifying my own practice, slowing down, working with the body that shows up on my yoga mat (often hurting, with much-reduced strength and flexibility), and learning to accept myself as I am, my practice as it is, pain as my teacher.
But. It’s January and I have two brand new hips. Happily, just as I was craving a bit of spice and some company on my mat, I discovered a lovely yoga teacher in Austin, Texas. And thanks to the wonders of technology and her extraordinary generosity in offering free online classes, I’ve become a daily student in Adriene’s 30-Day Yoga Camp. Whether you are new to yoga or a seasoned yogi, I’m pretty sure you’ll agree with me about Adriene: she is a joy to practice with. Sign up for her 30-day yoga camp and you’ll receive a daily email with a link to the day’s practice video, each of which is thirty-five minutes long. Miss a day? No problem, you can catch up (or skip a day) according to your schedule. It’s not too late to jump in! Visit Adriene’s website here, and click on Yoga Camp for more info.
If you’re like me, you may have started the new year by clearing your online decks and getting rid of some of the non-essential reading that seems to pour into our in-boxes each day. That clears more space for what’s meaningful, essential.
One of the most moving pieces I’ve read lately is an essay by my friend Dani Shapiro about the lingering grief of a lost friendship, one that ended badly, in silence and secret hurt. We’ve all been there. The pain of a fractured relationship never really heals, but it does teach us something. It can make us kinder going forward, more empathetic, and perhaps more willing to have the conversations we don’t want to have.
I put Claudia Cummins’s exquisitely curated blog A First Sip in my “essential” category: each weekday’s poem or quote seems perfectly chosen to inspire me to pause, reflect, and reconnect to my own best self. So when Claudia offered readers an opportunity to receive a daily essay through the month of January, I signed up immediately.
“The Gift of the World: A New Year’s Immersion” is a series of brief, beautifully written daily readings that invite us to rekindle the “quiet light” within each of us. As Claudia observes, “The new year offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the values, attitudes, and practices we hold most dear, and to reclaim space in our lives to nourish and nurture these loves.” These lovely essays — on subjects such as Rest, Kindness, Abundance, Beauty, and Attention – have been setting the tone for each of my January days. They are the perfect written complement to thirty days of yoga. And they’re also a much-needed reminder that I can choose to launch into this new year with a spirit of openness and abundance rather than focusing on what’s lacking, what I’m not, what I need to change.
You can still sign up to receive all of Claudia’s January offerings, here.
I tend to associate chapters of my life with the music I’m listening to. This winter, when everything from washing the dishes to doing my PT stretches takes an extra-long time, I’m playing more music in the house than usual, and I’ve got a pretty eclectic soundtrack evolving, everything from Sara Bareilles to Neil Young to Nina Simone to Ashana. Time to put together a new Alternatives-to-Adele (who I DO love) winter playlist on Spotify. In the meantime, you can click on the above artists’ names for a sampling of the music that’s filling my January days.
And now, I’d love to know: How are YOU surviving the warrior month? What are you reading? What are you listening to? What’s filling your cup?
P.S. I wish I could claim credit for these sweet watercolors, but alas no. I have been playing around with some cool apps, though. Waterlogue is one that can turn any photo on your phone into a painting. One more thing to love in January!
(The above books are Amazon Affiliate links.)
Katrina, I thought of you today as I sat with my husband during a consultation for hip replacement surgery. At one point there was discussion of doing both hips at one time. No! No! I wanted to scream. I’m glad the doctor agreed with me.
Using the promo, I love you more than … my daughter and I traded love notes most every day in 2015. It was a great discipline for both of us who tend to put things off as long as possible; and it was a sweet, delightful, wonderful way to stay in touch with one of my most favorite people in the whole world. This year we are using a little 5 year journal called Q&A. We answer a question every day on line – some easy like where do you want to travel next, some require more thought, like what inspired you today.
That said, I’ve got Rilke on my To Read list. And I love, love , love A First Sip.
Hope you are feeling better every day. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Katrina,
I always wait until I have the time to sit and savor your postings. They never fail to bring me joy, because you share so much of yourself and the goodies that bring you cheer.
January in Northeast Florida is “cold,” although I know that it as relative term, we do dip into the high 20’s and 30’s most January nights. I happen to love winter, perhaps because it is so short here. The winter sky is beautiful. I like brisk walks, snuggling up under the quilts at night, and crackling fires while I read and sip something warm.
I am excited to look into the yoga suggestion- I practice at home alone, also. And the books sound lovely. Thank you again for sharing so many little pieces of joy with the rest of us.
I don’t know how you found Adrienne but she is just what I need. I’ve been off the mat for 6 months myself. I broke my hip (3 screws). I may have mentioned to you previously. Anyway, I just haven’t been able to get my groove back, it’s been a slow process for me with yoga. It will happen, but I’m delighted to try her class. Thank you for all the other goodies you shared. Hope you continue to feel well and heal soon.
Your recommendations are a welcome smorgasbord of winter delights. Thank you!
Unsurprisingly,I love many of your loves, too!! Such a great post full of great resources and suggestions. Thinking of you as you stay put. xoxo
You know what gets me through January days? Feb, March, April…and Dec? You. Your posts, blog, essays, are all subtle reminders to look for the beauty and the bounty of each day. And if I won that billion lottery, I was going to move North so we could meet for Chai tea 😉
I love your wonderful suggestions, as always, Katrina. The month of January has not started at all as planned nor wanted. A fifth car accident in 21 months for my 22 year old daughter, I am sick with a virus, sinus infection, for the second time since December 1st! No not the cozy, fireplace, cup of tea, new exercise routine, January I was hoping for. I remain cautiously optimistic that I am healing my way towards that, and am inspired by your post. Namaste my ethereal friend! XO! Glad you are healing well!
Ah, “Wanderers.” One of my favorite books of all time — like you, I’ve given many copies away. (I can also recommend Vivian’s “Le Road Trip” and can’t wait till my advance-ordered copy of her new garden book arrives in a week or two or three. She is, in fact, one of my winter motivators, as I follow her blog and do my best to take advantage of her excellent watercolor “lessons” in each post! Yes, that’s part of my January. I’ve also been reading Diane Keaton’s “Nobody Said It Was Pretty” (or close), which does make me feel quite a bit better about bones that don’t work the way they used to and sinuses that seem to make one’s head explode! Between that and Mitch Albom’s “Frankie Presto” book (ah, the music of life!) I’ve been a happy reader. A baking class, an art class (next week) And as soon as the last of the holidays is down, an extended visit to Ancestry.com. All this I do with less guilt because it’s cold and icy and gloomy and home with a cuppa, a kitty and too many activities for a lifetime is a fine place to be.
I’m glad you are recuperating and filling your hours with many wonderful things. I think you may have inspired me to add a few more to my list!
I start my day with First Sip as well- thank you for pointing out her essay series. Much needed right now. I feel like I “missed” the New Year fresh start impulse but it’s never too late. I’ve been drinking chai tea lately as well- it’s so comforting and spicy and cozy. Never thought to make my own!
I always wonder how I’d react to being made to “stay put” due to illness or recovery. I like to think that I’d use my time like this, that I’d read the deeper books and embrace the stillness and learn to speak Spanish or Italian or something. I suspect I might be more grumpy and unsettled than I envision. 🙂 Thank you for these most welcome thoughts.
So hope you are doing better in your recovery. love the resources here and will check them out. Great suggestions and so appropriate for stay inside January.
Getting up before anyone else in this busy house and emptying my mind into my journal. Then walking the dogs in the cold dark before tending to my geraniums. I grow them under lights. They’re my summer plants which I bring indoors, cutting off their tops and dividing each pot into four small plants. Fertilizing them with seaweed makes them bloom all winter under the lights. Their bright colors brighten my soul. If winter starts to get to me, I make something – a handmade decoupage journal, a new recipe, a scrapbook page. Creating something always lifts me.
Hi Katrina! Thanks for all your wonderful inspirations. I imagine we are all peering out our frosty, winter windows, strengthening our inner warriors with hearth and home. I love this post and your last, particularly the quality of “aliveness” you quoted and spoke of. It’s definitely lingering with me and keeping me sane during my current crazy schedule. One step at a time, one moment at a time, one breath at a time. Check out First Aid Kit “Stay Gold”, their album is beautiful, music, harmony and lyrics make a perfect package for your listening pleasure. Happy New Year! Love, Michelle
What a wonderful set of “finds” this post gave me today ~ thank you! As for surviving January, it’s funny, but I always find the cold, gray days of February much harder to survive. January, with it’s fresh start, always inspires me. So I’ve spent lots of time out in the sunroom with glass and kilns, happily creating away. No deadlines yet, which is always more fun. But trust me, I’ll be back at the end of the month to see what you suggest for Feb =)
I am spending January praying for my husband using the book, “Praying for my Husband Head to Toe” by Sharon Jaynes and am re-reading “Windows of the Soul – Experiencing God in New Ways” by Ken Gire. Also making my collage art pictures with a sweet little quote I stumbled across – “You put your heart and soul into it and when it comes time for them to leave the nest, you pray that you have done enough.”
I use abandoned bird nests that I come upon during my walks. Just discovered your books. I am 51 and have two kids half way through high school – good timing.
Learning to mingle the letting go and hanging on.
Life is always better with a cup of tea, and a posting from you. It always brightens my day and gives me reason to pause, to be grateful, and to think. The Wanderer’s sounds like a great book to put on my list. My best friend gave me a copy of the Book of Awakening by
Mark Nepo. Every day of the year there is a quote, and a synopsis of the quote. I find it very soulful and life affirming.
I hope your recuperation is going well. I have just completed my therapy from knee replacement surgery. This is the first time in 14 years that I have walked without a cane. I must say it feels a bit odd. I feel as though I am missing something and then I am amazed because I can walk without it. Every day I feel blessed that I can stand and walk without pain. Have a wonderful January and thanks for the wonderful articles.
Beautiful, as always. I am so grateful for your posts.
And guess what? I’m doing Yoga with Adriene also (although not on consecutive days:)
I am going to find that Rilke book too. Thanks for suggesting.
My very best to you and your family.
Love,
Mary Lynne
PS Can’t wait to see Henry’s show in Providence in May/June!
I thought I recognized the Waterlogue app right off the bat in your post today. I too have played around with it this year. I love your posts and plan to sign up for the online yoga classes immediately. Best wishes!
Katrina,
Thank you so much for your encouraging words about looking for a team of
friends that could help me if I do have surgery, I did mention this to a few and
they were all on board, so thanks for the suggestion, I am learning that you have
to ask for help.
Reading your post was so inspiring as always, I want to get the book When Wanderers
Cease to Roam sounds very interesting.
and the article by Dani Shapiro really hit home I went through a similar situation
3 years ago… Well we have half of January behind us now, but it is a great month
to curl up by the fire with a good book and also my Live Happy Magazine it has so
many uplifting articles it truly does make me happy. I always feel that a cup of tea is a hug in a cup!!! and I love hugs anyway I can get them!!
I just know your recovery is going to be so rewarding for you and look forward
to hearing all your news. take care and keep writing xo
Wonderful to have this blog communication in my first week of recovery from my 1st hip replacement, So grateful t be a new member of this community with you all…..and Katrina…what a gift to my recovery your writing is! I didn’t feel I had anyone whom I could relate to on this journey of both a new empty nest, an body needing some new parts, and giving up my mainstay of serenity; yoga! Can’t wait to greet my daily devotional time and my reborn recovery with your words!
So many things to love in January! Thank you for this little gift-wrapped package of amazing treats…an app, a recipe, some books, some yoga…honestly I feel like I just had a three hour dinner conversation with my bestie. Thank you! Can’t wait to try them all. First up, the chai. 🙂
And as my gift to you I’ll share my latest favorite treat: a local coffee store calls Enlightenment – which makes it even better. It’s green tea, a dollop of honey and steamed milk. At the store, they make the tea with the milk, no water, but at home, I add water, leave some room at the top and froth some milk in a microwave…not hard at all. Delish! Plus, you get the added benefit of being enlightened. 🙂 Enjoy, my warrior friend.
Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring words. Your books have accompanied me through parenthood and I’m so grateful now for your blog. I started Yoga Camp last week and I feel like a different person already. Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful resources. It was exactly what I needed to start off this new year. I hope you are continuing to heal and feeling stronger and more mobile every day with your new hips. Your writing is such a gift to the world.
I’m so glad that I read your book – The Gift of an Ordinary Day a few years ago. And, since then read your other books. You have helped broaden my perspective on life. Keep on doing what you are doing. Your writing inspires many people.
Listening to Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club. So beautiful it makes me cry. And clearing out and emptying space.