Invest in … Balance Through the Seasons

The Christmas season ended several weeks ago. (Never mind that our tree is still lit, standing, and green. Corkbark evergreen trees are amazing.)

For some, the time after Christmas is quiet, dull, and depressing. The high of the anticipation, family, and all around festivities comes crashing down in the midst of winter’s darkness and chill.

Other people are relieved when Christmas passes. They’re ready to jump into the new year with fresh starts, new promises and exciting goals.

During the course of a year, countless seasons come and go, ranging far beyond temperature and day length. Some seasons are joyous; others are empty.

In my busyness, I can forget to stop and think about life and the people in my life. I feel the season I’m facing briefly but move on quickly to the next task with very little processing. However, when I do invest the time, I find that the processing balances out the busyness. Was it the slow down that created the balance or the actual processing? I don’t know, but either way, I’ll take it.

As I thought about people facing the after-Christmas season, I thought of a picture … an after-Christmas tree. Most Christmas trees are undecorated and discarded by the curb or on a garbage pile somewhere (we live in the country and toss ours in our hedgerow to compost, use for hot dog fires or just burn with the burnable trash). In the meantime, the animals of the hedgerow find solace there. The tree becomes useful again.

Each season leans into the next. As one phase ends, another begins.

My after-Christmas tree became a card. Created thinking of people living in the after-Christmas season.

Your turn. Here’s a journal prompt:

How do you feel in the after-Christmas season? Write it. Draw it. Dance it. Dream it.

Happy creating!

Joanne