17 Comments

Very well said. I love my big sweatshirts and sweatpants. Hanging out by the wood burning stove. But why do I still feel so guilty about doing nothing and riddle myself with anxiety?

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it's wild, right?? giving ourself permission to relax is so challenging!

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Ouch, this hit so close to home! I loved the plant analogy, I'll try to keep it in mind when outside gets darker and cold... but I still cannot wait for spring again. And hey, at least in a couple of weeks, days will start to get longer, so cheers to that!

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yes!!! something important to remember about ACTUAL winter—the days are starting to get gradually longer again!

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Your plant analogies resonate so much with me. What a lovely reminder that rest is a necessity to embrace, not a bonus to be earned. Thank you for putting your perspective out Into the world!

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thank you! and yes totally, rest is not something we have to earn, just a part of keeping ourselves sustained!

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This is so spot on! Thank you for this reminder. I hope you have a lovely, relaxing end of year!

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thank you! same to you!!

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Ugh this is so relateable!! Definitely feeling this super hard this year and it’s such a nice sentiment to remind myself that I’m like a plant that goes dormant too in the winter! Wishing you a good end of the year Alex with lots of rest and relaxation 🥰

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thank you! and same to you! we gotta listen to the signs the world is giving us and slow down a bit this time of year <3

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Yes! I love this; beautifully written. I struggle with this so much. I can feel my body needing to bring things down a notch but the world outside is demanding more — plus that end of year “deadline” for so many things that just adds even more artificial pressure. It’s really comforting to know that other people are trying to navigate this too. Embracing my inner peony! Thank you Alex

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embrace your inner peony!!! yes!!! thank you <3

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Wonderful. My almost-done knitted sweater still needs a sleeve. I abandoned it in the summer when I was playing outside. Hope to get it done soon. Only cavil: with climate change, it's not COLD enough. More cold, more dormancy is what we need. But don't despair about the light; it will return in 13 days.

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my favorite part of the winter solstice! the light slowly starts to trickle back. good luck with that second sleeve! it's always the worst!!

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alex, beautiful meditation on this time of year when our roots in the earth are what matter. yes to what you conclude...yes and yes again. winter asks this from us. we need to listen. jump into that sweater you knit and do what the plants do...and i'll do the same.

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love that! and yes, see you in the springtime!!! (though i’ll still be making newsletters 🙃)

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and i'll be looking forward to your newsletters....and flowering in the springtime!

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