Is there anything Philosophical about January ? I think there's something psychological about it … I don't like it December is OK but January ….. comes in with a splat, leaves ya flat Its a nothing month …. but wait, maybe you know different …… Any positives on January ?
Winter is dreary and cold here in Alabama. I like not having all of the snow and severe cold that we had in Idaho, but at least it was beautiful looking out at all of that white serene landscape. Here , everything is just drab brown all winter, and both Bobby and myself look forward to the tiny green signs that spring is coming again before long. Even though none of that (usually) happens in January, we at least feel like we have made it “over the hump” of winter and are starting down the other side and into a new green spring somewhere ahead. Days are starting to get longer again, even though it still is not really noticible until we get to the time change back to DST , but even a little longer daylight is encouraging. I think that there is also the psychological aspect of the new year, as referenced in @Joe Riley ’s thread about turning over a new leaf. A new year is the time for self introspection, seeing what we did last year, and want to do differently next year, kind of like being given another chance to get it right this time. And there is always birthdays. My birthday is in January, so for most of my life, I looked forward to January and having a birthday. Then, I started “getting old” and didn’t want to have those birthdays anymore. Now, I am just glad that I am still here to have yet another mile marker in my life.
I agree with your last paragraph Yvonne but - the rest didn't convince me I've spent years singing in the New Year, making resolutions, reflecting - only to find that January comes and goes in the same way each year - just doesn't inspire me no more Oh dear, I got the blues and it ain't even January yet @Yvonne Smith
Let's see, January in northeastern Florida generally spells this...…...second coldest month of the year! Compared to where we are moving to, the January temp here definitely isn't cold, but, this time of year, Colorado is suppose to be cold. Simple logic. My wife has a 3-day weekend in January...….Martin Luther King Day she is off. January is my wife's birthday, in which I get her some red roses, a nice card and prime rib/lobster dinner out that night. Other than these three things, January is just simply "January".
A lot of people feel a let down in January after all the build up of Christmas and New Year's Eve in December. Many people also get depressed thinking of the bills that will be coming due in January after all the Christmas spending. Then there is also the pressure to make resolutions for the New Year....which just adds more stress to those who feel overwhelmed already. I don't think of January as the beginning of my New Year anymore...my new year starts every year on my Birthday. And January to me is now a month where I shred bills from the year before that I no longer need, add Birthdays and appointments, etc. to the New Year Calendar, and go through last year's magazines and snip any articles I want to keep and then pass those magazines on to others. January to me is a month to rest and take things at a slower pace after the fast paced last few months of the previous year.
All you say is so true I like this though where you say - 'January to me is a month to rest and take things at a slower pace after the fast paced last few months of the previous year.' I'll try to do just that, let the world go by me in January @Babs Hunt
Tbh, I haven't heard of January Blues but quite a lot of November Blues. Not the case at your end? I have a simple explanation for that. Most people live in accordance with the seasons. From that point of view, in Europe, November is a dull month in as much as all the gardening has been done and the dark season is about to start. The next highlight is Christmas in December which leaves November an often gloomy, foggy month with nothing really to look forward to because spring is still far away. So, all those who can manage book tours and leave the country - but in most cases for those four weeks in November only. Then they come back, keep their doctors' appts, and start preparing for Christmas. January is, for some, just as bad as November while, for others, it's worse because of the usually lowest temps in the year and the snow. Yet most people prefer (hopefully) dry winter days in the snow to cold and damp November days. January is another month without highlights and with nothing to do really. So, many people leave again or stay at a health spa for weeks. You might say that February is just as bad but here the days are longer and brighter again, spring is nearer, and gardeners can be active again in their greenhouses and generally start preparing the gardening season. The thing is that during the past ten years or so seasons in central Europe have shifted, i.e. winter begins later and ends later, often not before the end of March. And then, all of a sudden, summer sets in with temps way too high at the expense of lovely spring days which so many people enjoy. I, personally, don't care about the weather as long as there is no torrential rain or hurricanes and thunderstorms. I'm not sensitive to changes in the weather either. So I'll be feeling good in January, I guess, as long as I keep well and fit.
So true ! The thing is, you've added another month January 'and' November Now, November had slipped through me fingers - I'll have to ponder and decide if I give the OK to - November
My favorite months are November, December, January and February.....march is a little iffy. October is okay though....towards the end. I think I could live in Alaska and be happy if I had someone to do the driving and shoveling.
@Patsy Faye ...agree January is a dull month for the most part. Even June and July are not months for me. I stay away from J's if possible.However this January will be a bit different. Yesterday my hubby turned in his resignation and retirement notice effective Jan 19th. But because he has 3 weeks vacation coming he started that come Sunday...so at One pm today he is out of there ! His hours had already been cut to a nibble..so $!;$!; 'em...he be on vacation. Just so happens we will be house sitting in January...and cleaning out his dads house that passed away last year. So I am thinking January this year just might be sorta fun
@Patsy Faye In our Desert location, January means the disappearance of Winter. December is about the coldest month, with winds that add vigor to the chill. Right now, this morning was the coldest this Winter, 41`F, and the high predicted is only 55`F, which will feel more like 48` due to 25 mph winds. Early in January, I will pick the 8 or 9 Valencia Oranges our little tree has produced. The fragrance of orange blossoms fills the air in March, many months for oranges to mature. I was surprised how they hang on in such terrible wind, while the rest of the poor tree is battered! We rescued it out of Wal-Mart's scrap pile of near-dead plants about 4 years ago for $15.00. Last year it had only 2 fruits, this year I think 9. Last year's were the sweetest oranges I've ever tasted! January usually begins a gradual warming up, normal lows about 50, highs around 70. Always the possibility of a Pacific storm front passing through, though. Two years ago, New Year's Day morning revealed 1/2 inch of snow blown up against our back door, the plants dusted in white! No evidence of it left by 10 AM. Frank