Blue Monday

The third Monday in January has recently become known as Blue Monday, and not just in Wales: If you too woke to a rather damp and dark January day then ‘blue’ might apply to you too. Yes it’s about money, yes it’s about weather boy it’s probably also about transition.

The difficulty with transition is that it is all taking place beneath ground. Observing the wheel of the, we are mid way between Beltane and imbolc. This is deep mid winter, whilst the light is returning, no plant or tree would bother expending its energy growing leaves just get because there is no sunlight to harvest energy from. Instead, living things at this time are sending their roots deep down to gather nourishment. This strengthens a plants core as well as securing a robust platform that will support a flourishing plant later on the year. So this digging deep is essential for all that will happen to this plant this year.

We humans are just the same. We too respond to these natural cycles of the year in similar ways. We too retreat into ourselves in the dark months. We too take time to reflect, make choices and put down our roots to support our growth in our new choices throughout the coming year. Without this preparation we too would ‘fall over’ if we we grew to high, to fast, in the summer months. Like plants, we too need a firm
foundation. Blue Monday does have a purpose for us humans too.

The problem with this ‘transitional‘ work is that we cannot see it. Because it takes all beneath ground. Because there is, as yet, no fruit nor flower, equally no promotion nor pay rise, we usually fail to acknowledge ourselves for the work we are putting in. Because we can see no evidence of impact, for all the time and effort, we easily lose faith that anything is happening. We can also lose faith that there will ever by pay-off for our investment. Combine this with the bills coming in from the festive season. Add the weight gained our celebrations that still may be lingering. Add the notion that our next vacation is a long way away, and, you have a potent mix of negativity.

So what can we do with Blue Monday? Here is where we might benefit from a little faith and a little reward and perhaps a little gratitude for what we do have rather than listing what we don’t. I’m guessing if you’re reading this blog that you have a roof over your head and community around you. I am guessing you’ve plenty of food, a warm bed. You have some kind of income and you are educated enough to make decisions for yourself. Thus makes both you and me petty lucky. It is easy to forget that.

Perhaps it might be time to revisit your New Years decisions and affirm yourself for what you have done. Also to reaffirm your vision for this year for your personal and professional worlds. Time to plot and indeed take a few of those steps that will lead to full growth at the height of the year. What were those changes you were going to make? and How are you going to do that? Perhaps it is also time to be Be kind to yourself: Here’s a picture of chocolate. Even chocolate takes hard work, rules and protocols. But isn’t it just worth it!

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