Some folks aren’t fans of winter. I am not one of those folks. I love that I live in a place that experiences all four seasons with all their depth and beauty. I even enjoy a few days (not a few weeks though) of frigid temperatures.
However, this year I am so happy for the arrival of spring. I enter this new season slightly more refreshed than a month ago and with a feeling of hope.
Through most of this winter though I struggled. We are caring for someone with dementia in our home. It is one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. Though I began 2024 filled with hope and optimism, I found myself spiralling down with each day’s frustrations and stresses.
Eight months ago I started seeing a therapist. I saw her in November, then not again till February. At our February appointment I discovered that thought I am good with the ‘doing’ of filling my cup, I am not so good at ‘not doing’.
I will do my yoga, my meditation, my walks, my mala beads, etc. I will fill my days and any extra hours with things to check off my list of things I think I should be doing. But, the act of not doing is much more challenging for me.
After this discovery, I made an effort to partake in not doing as I finished off the winter season. And it seems to have worked, at least a little.
What did my not doing look like? It meant a couple of weekends puttering with no plans. It meant quieting my mind and not worrying about checking things off my to-do list. It meant playing with art in the evenings, though I kinda suck at art. It meant just hanging out chatting with my husband and snuggling with the dog.
Now I have more energy and capacity to focus on spiralling up, instead of defaulting into spiralling down. I don’t think I could have gotten to this place without allowing myself time to truly rest. I hope the next time I encounter a hard season I will remember this lesson.
We will all experience hard seasons in our lives. Perhaps, you are experiencing a hard season right now. Know that just because winter is over it doesn’t mean it’s too late for some serious not doing. Take that time as you need it. Trust me, it is invaluable.