Hello Friends!
I feel like such a long time has passed since I’ve sat down to write. It’s been a very busy holiday season, as I’m sure it has been for you too. My little girl turned five (!), we celebrated each week of Advent with a beautiful and magical community ceremony, we had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner, we received the joyous news that our close friend had a baby, and we had visits from several dear friends.
And then things got quiet around here. And it got very cold. And we got pretty sad. And homesick.
Sure, we could have easily picked up the phone to proactively get to know some new acquaintances, but it just seemed so daunting. It’s hard to get out of a funk sometimes. I had a few big girl tantrums and cried a bit. I jumped into new projects (magic loop!) and tried to focus my energy in a positive way. But it is hard to write a blog post about feeling sad! I try to be authentic with my writing, but I also want to hold the intention of focusing on the the beauty and joy that exists in my life. Such a balancing act.
At the beginning of 2012, Brian and I set a guiding intention for the year: Be Bold. It has played out in many ways including moving across country to Missouri and beginning to write this blog. Over the next few days, I’ll be setting intentions for the year ahead and remaining open to any guiding words that come to inspire 2013. I’d love to hear what sorts of intentions you are setting for your year.
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for sharing in my life through this blog. Some of you I know intimately, some of you I’ve only met across a computer screen, but it brings me great joy create this blog, and I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond.
Until 2013!
Teri
I miss seeing your family each week. But, on the flip side, I love seeing you stepping out & doing what it is you’ve talked about doing for so long. Watching it unfold on the internet has been a wonderful thing!
Hi Mandy! We miss you too! I just signed Ella up for a dance class starting in a week, but she is really nervous. I was recalling how Kenady took her under her wing at Ella’s first class and Ella was just smitten. Sure hope we have a “Kenady” here too!
Teri! Bold you are and living fully, your an inspiration in really moving towards your ideals with action. Each day is a little longer and soon hibernation will be over! Big Hugs to you and the family and wishing you a great year ahead!
Oh, sweet Jenny! Thanks so much for your words! This week has actually been really sunny, and while it is still cold, I’m forcing myself out of hibernation to enjoy the snow and the best part of the snowy climate – winter sports!!
Happy New Year! I, too, often feel a bit melancholy this time of year—after the fun of the holidays and before the mornings get a little brighter! I can completely empathize with the difficulty in forging new connections…it takes forever and don’t even get me started on the “couples friends”. That adds a whole new degree of difficulty…
I love reading your blogs about a “world” that is superficially rather different than mine. I must admit I live a bit vicariously through your descriptions…thanks for sharing! I hope you find a good outlet for your creativity that also allows you to connect with folks locally.
Thanks Catherine! So nice to hear from you. Yes, this is a tough time of year with the days so short and dark! Thankfully I really enjoy sitting by the woodstove and knitting!
It can be so fun to live vicariously through others’ blogs, and I know that I get inspired by the ones that I read. Always learning and growing!
leaving your community is truly hard. I’m sure you will have great rewards in starting a new one, it just takes so darn long.
Hi Miriam! Yes, it is very hard! And although we are so fortunate to have instant community here, it is the little things that hit me – like missing sharing certain traditions with friends, or the way a certain place looks at this time of year. I just try to hold on to the positive things that we’re moving towards creating!
I miss you too Teri and I wish you all a merry and bright winter warmed by the loving community that surrounds you. I really feel that in times of growth and change, that creativity has been a tremendous store of energy that makes for possibilities- and you have so much of that. What is the magic loop pray tell? (I can’t help but feel this is a knitting concept). I want to come out and visit in the future, it is something worth working up to. I am feeling joy about Devon and Brian’s new addition as well, and look forward to all of this new life unfolding in 2013. much love!
Thanks Kerstin! I appreciate your thoughts about creativity – it’s really a source of calm and strength for me. And YES! a visit is very much worth working towards. You would really love the community happenings here. Lots of creating and singing and gathering with good food. As for magic loop, it’s revolutionizing how I’m going to be knitting in the future. I finally bit the bullet and watched a good YouTube video that explained it: the basic concept is that you can knit two socks/mittens/sleeves at the SAME TIME on a long circular needle! It’s a bit crazy setting it up and getting used to it, but now I’m cruising along, and doing two sleeves at once -hurray!!
Hello Friend! On the eve of my 40th birthday last month, I knew that this coming year (let alone this next decade) would hold many different intentions for me than I had in the past. My word has become flow….flow like a river, receiving and pausing in the moments of my day… flow with balance and finding the middleway in all interactions…and mostly knowing to my core that we are flowing through this life and that not one day must pass without gratitude. Sending warm thoughts to you and your sweet family.
xo
melanie
Hi Melanie! It’s so nice to hear your intention for the coming year. Flow is something I’ve never done very well (maybe “Shape” is a better word to describe my way of being), but the words that have been coming to me so far have been along those lines: surrender, release, trust. And yes, experiencing gratitude as part of a daily practice. And it truly is a practice, isn’t it!
We miss you Teri. Winter is long. I will be thinking about you and hoping you can find some good ways to spend you energy.
Thanks Peg! One thing I’m really missing is the theater, and luckily there are a few possibilities here. I’m going to audition for something in early March. I’ve actually been thinking a lot about the very first show I did in CG – The Music Man!!! – and how it was so helpful in transitioning me to a new town.