Happy 2022 💫 - it's time we catch up!
Hello, friend.
A super warm welcome, if this is your first note from me. And, if you’ve been around a while…it has been way too long, hasn’t it?!
I have wanted to sit down + write to you since before Christmas, but I just couldn’t find the discipline, I guess. The inspiration was there. I’ve even had time. It just wasn’t happening for me.
I suppose it could partly be that, now that I have made Substack my new home for my little letters to you, I realize that it doesn’t quite feel like home yet. Of course, I also fully realize that it will feel more homey to me the more I come here to write to you. So, I really hope that this little letter not only finds you well as you begin to settle into this new calendar year; but that this is also the beginning of more regular, yet random, correspondences between us. A girl can hope!
Sooooo 2022, huh? How are you feeling about it? How has it started for you?
For me, it’s been quite slow. But, in a good way. All of January, whether it was when I was in the States visiting my family or home in Sweden, I found myself sinking deeply into the restful, quiet, restorative magic of winter. I was in no hurry to do anything. I simply found my rhythm and dropped into the energy of hibernation. From day to day I focused on simple things like food, comfort, and rest. And not getting sick with Omicron! At the same time, as January came to a close, I felt big changes coming. I felt the deep energy of the earth starting to awaken - and that meant that it was time for me to prepare to come out of my silent, solitary winter over the next month or so.
February literally began with a storm here in Sweden. The winds of change literally blowing in a whole different vibe. No more slow, dark, quiet, deep winter. But, also no where near the coming of spring. Still, February came in with a sense of hope + promise. The days are noticeably longer as the sun rises earlier + sets later. A very few plants have begun to wake. But, most of the magic is happening underground as roots stretch, seeds begin to stir, and slow movement begins to shift all of the earth back to life.
At home, I made a conscious effort to bring the energy of this waking, quickening season into my home. I changed our bedding, freshened up the entire bedroom, moved some things around, redecorated our dining room table, and have committed to having fresh flowers on the kitchen island. It feels like the perfect blend of cold, dreary February + brighter, more hopeful February all at once. Because this is a month, a season, of delicate balance. Of slow transition that moves us back + forth from winter to spring to winter to spring. It is the slow, random unfolding of it all.
On the blog, I’ve decided that 2022 is the year that I bring back my weekly “The week that was… “ posts. So far, I’ve stayed committed + shared a post every Monday for the past month or so. If you’re looking for a bit more about my everyday life + a ton of photos, then you’ll want to follow along - click here.
Even though I’m making it sound like these first weeks of 2022 have been all slow + calm, there is a lot of other stuff going on as well. The slow + calm vibe is how I intend to live my life - even in the midst of changes, activity, stress, and busy-ness. It’s a conscious, mindful choice of how I want to embody seasonal living.
Here’s a little more of what’s been going on:
My love + I made it through the year anniversary of losing our little 15 week-old baby.
My brother + his partner suddenly moved from North Carolina to New Hampshire (where she’s originally from).
My parents will be moving up there as well sometime during the spring, I think. And all of that moving changes everything for me + my love. No more States visits to NC. Instead, we will be in New England. Crazy.
I am interviewing for a few different jobs + most likely will begin work in the beginning of March - after not working since July last year.
We’re still trying to get pregnant + have a baby - and the process is long, hard, exhausting, and deeply emotional.
Needless to say, much is happening so far in 2022. And, while most of it sparks deep, raw emotions, I still feel a sense of grounded calm. I still feel as if nothing is happening to me, but rather, I am flowing with it all. Or it is all flowing with me. I am able to handle these tough, sudden, difficult, new changes because I feel like it is all simply unfolding. That I am anchored to my center, strong in my soul, and participating in the evolution + changes that are occurring within this slow journey of becoming.
Well, friend. I guess that’s a little of what has been going on with me since 2022 began. How are you? What are you experiencing this year so far? Let me know, if you want. Share with me by leaving a comment:
Ok, here’s to hoping that this has lit a fire under me and that, as I slowly awaken during this season of transitioning from winter to spring, I also write to you again very soon. I must admit, just spending some time here today, talking with you + sharing my thoughts, I feel a little more at home already.
Thanks for being here, for reading my words and letting me reach out to you. Wishing you a lovely Thursday filled with inspiration + laughter. If you haven’t already, start to stretch your body + awaken to the season that is calling us back to life.
Talk soon, love.
xoxo. liz.