As we know in the Yukon, winter can be very hard. The weather can be horrid, as revealed during the small amount of daylight we get. January is the month for paying Christmas bills (for those who indulged), as well as trying to lose the weight that hours, days and weeks of eating tasty things bestowed upon some of us. January can also be the month for failing to keep resolutions that may be a bit too ambitious given the small store of will (or won’t) power that some of us can muster in the winter months.
Over my many years, I’ve found that a sense of failure is not a good way to start out a new year. This year I’m going to forego resolutions in favour of a list of positive possibilities. At the top of my list is to avoid the January dumps by focusing on those things that give me joy, or at least make me grudgingly grateful. My personal, idiosyncratic list of things may include some items you agree with, and some that may have you wondering how to get me the help I so obviously need. In no particular order, here are a few that are relatively safe for me to share:
- I’m grateful that there are only a few months to go before we can get back to the same time as B.C., instead of being adrift in Alberta, Saskatchewan or N.W.T. time.
- I’m thankful that the lack of daylight during my most-productive hours will continue throughout January, making it easy for me to provide a blanketed lap for my comfort-loving cat in the mornings.
- I am in awe of the beauty of winter and appreciate those who make it possible to live here through their efforts, such as health care workers and educators, as well as the highway and street crews. I am also deeply grateful for the custodians of this land, who share it with us with grace and generosity.
- The constant improvements in technology are welcome, but only when they make things easier instead of harder and more frustrating. I’m glad there are places like the European Union that force the tech giants to play nice. Companies that make computer cords that work for any device, and who ensure that software can work on different platforms, are so helpful (I wish more of that courage would find its way to these shores).
- I live in hope that this is the year that humanity will pull together to address the serious issues that face us all—issues such as poverty, war and climate change.
- I also live in hope that this is the year that the Yukon government will finally fix its website, so information and assistance can be easily found.
- I like being old enough to point out how things were so much better in the old days. Right?
- One benefit of aging is that I have time to watch Canadian sports teams on the international stage. It’s great to cheer for Canada’s junior hockey team. It’s also great that I now have blood-pressure medications when the games are close.
- The same blood-pressure medications are very welcome when listening to or reading the words of some politicians. I do think I may need something to help with my anxiety when observing some activities of our neighbouring country to the south (and west).
- Mostly, I’m truly and humbly grateful for friends and family—near and far—for those still living and those beyond the veil who have shown me love (or at least tolerance) over the years.
So there’s part of my antidote to January (and all of winter really). I wish you all the best in 2024, as well as your own list to help counter the Winter Blues.
