It is 50 degrees out; unheard of for Maine winters and as much as I love the fresh air pouring in, the warm temps are a teaser for spring for most Mainers and plants alike. Perhaps Mother Nature is trying to figure out which direction she should now go in, just like the rest of us. It seems as once the glow of Christmas passes, all I notice is stark, silent, grey and white clomps of dirty snow and barren branches. It is a time of reflection which most of us do at one point or another while dreaming of our next summer adventures.

I find the fall months fly by at such a rapid pace that I quite often look up from my work and am amazed it’s already winter and in turning that corner wait not so patiently for shoots of green grass and buds on trees – life renewing itself just as we now find ourselves on the threshold of a new year. I have no intention of making resolutions that will be broken, nor need to be drawn in to the torrent of ads featuring ways to shed wrinkles, fat, and illnesses if I don’t heed the warnings. In reality, these companies are all fighting to latch onto our insecurities, and increase their profit margin. Advertisements have a great way of having us feel inadequate in all ways; and while we stumble towards that magic bullet so many of us will fall prey to the dream, while we ignore our rational thinking. If we didn’t, we would realize that 99% of it all is based not on science, but just a slick salesman.

I made a list this morning of things I do routinely that does not serve me well based on logic and just common sense. For instance, I have given my internal dialogue far too much credit in directing what I should do, can do, and don’t do. In fact, my internal dialogue is a slick salesman who can convince me quicker than a 30 second ad on the value I place on myself, my endeavors, and my goals. I’m thinking I need a roll of duck tape available as a reminder to silence the nay sayer when I can. It is the internal dialogue of “slick” that derails most of us – whether in how we view ourselves, or our lives in general. Slick needs to take a hike as all it serves is to beat us down.

That being said, today is an excellent day to rewrite a few things and it does not mean that life changes by leaps and bounds but by baby steps and applauding small changes in a larger vision of our so called lives. I will need to remind myself of just this as January passes and we press on towards spring. It is so much safer to stay the course, continue on as before, too frightened to imagine the possibilities we are worthy of and embrace them. Nothing in our lives comes easily, but there is a sense of satisfaction in small steps towards a larger goal. It will take believing in the power within us – once we do that, somehow it will all fall into place.

So take today in, enjoy this brief hiatus of winter and breathe in the crisp smell of spring as a teaser; toss what no longer serves you, and make room for adventure and possibilities that are there for each of us – I have faith and hope which is a good start to my first steps into this new year. May it be more than you expected, worthy of a scrapbook and stories to pass on. May you feel peace in the ebb and flow of the tide which mimics life – may the sun warm your heart and may you love not just this live, but may you simply decide to love you.

Ciao! Happy New Year!