The First Week of the New Year, Full of Magic

This first week of the new year has felt like an extension of winter break. I started out the new year engaged – H proposed on December 30 at Cheekwood Holiday Lights, and my friend Haley was there to capture it! She sent me more photos this week, and it’s so special to have them. I wanted to share some of my favorites with you:

Photos by HaleyClare Photography

I went back to work on Monday (when it snowed, but not enough for no school), but then we had snow days Thursday and Friday! Living in the South, it’s always exciting to get a big snow. In Nashville we usually get snow once or twice each winter, but it’s not guaranteed and often it’s just a dusting. On Thursday, it started snowing steadily around 7:30 in the morning and piling up quickly. It was a heavy, gorgeous snow that continued through the afternoon and resulted in around six inches of a winter wonderland. The temperatures did not rise, and it stuck around Friday and is still here today.

I spent my snow days sipping tea by the fire, reading my book, doing my mini holiday crosswords, working on a winter puzzle, venturing out into the snow with Cleo, and doing this year’s 30-day yoga journey with Adriene. It has been lovely to have the chance to slow down, cozy up, and get a taste of winter break again.

I enjoy savoring each season, and appreciating it for what it is – not rushing ahead to spring, but being here, now, and staying present. I think snow is magical, and sometimes it takes a simple mindset shift to see the magic in life and especially in winter. One of my words for 2022 is gratitude, and every night before bed I journal and write down three things for which I’m grateful that day. Taking the time to do this helps me see those magic moments. After I write in my journal, I often feel more content than I did before and settled for sleep.

Embrace the season at hand, romanticize it, find the things you love about it. Make a list of them, and see what happens when you focus on what makes you happy.

I hope you see the magic this winter.

P.S. Finding joy and magic in last year’s week-long snow and self-care for feeling good on cold winter days.