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Winteris always a dark time in some ways, but this year is darker than usual.
Adobe Stock / Inti St. Clair
Going into hibernation during apandemicis scary.
The darkness can feel all-consuming, like theres no hope of ever climbing out.
It helps me to view hibernation as part of the human experience.
Bobby Quillard
We go into our caves for winter and we sow seeds for the future.
That mindset won’t work for everyone, but I’ve found it helpful for me.
Youre building up your resilience and sowing the seeds for your future growth.
This winter, plant a garden inside yourself.
I know youd get out of those if you could, but dems the breaks, right?
But all that other shit you don’t want to do?
What if, as much as possible, you only ever did things that made you happy?
How would that affect the way you showed up for other people?
Practice loving yourself first.
Do only what you want and fuck the rest.
The sooner you feel them, the faster it’s possible for you to move on.
The messier, the better.Get a graduate degree in crying like a baby.
Theres plenty to cry aboutlet it out.
If youre looking for a new deck, I recommendMystic MondaysandDark Days Tarot.
I also recommend investing in a book likeHow To Read Tarotto guide your practice.
Then theres learning more about your natal chart, which can fundamentally alter how you approach your life.
I highly recommendChani NicholassYou Were Born For Thisas a way to break the ice.
Find astrologers you might trust, and check your horoscope as often as feels good.
I like to check mine every day, sometimes multiple times a day.
There are lots of great apps and practitioners, but I favorCo-Star,The Pattern, andSanctuary.
you might evenprioritize your luxe self-care game, if you want, and invest in quality bath accessories.
Im partial toLush Bath bombsandForia Wellness CBD bath salts, among other things.
They will appreciate it, andso will you.
Theres only here, theres only now, theres only this, and yes, I did just quoteRent.
Every once in a while,jot down somethingthat resonated from your day.
Record something as proof of your existence.
Show up for and be accountable to yourself.
Dont be pressed if you dont do it every day.
Its not a big deal.
It doesnt need to be more than a sentence or two every few days.
You dont have to do everything every day.
I find that it clears out the cobwebs of my mind and pulls me into the present moment.
Your endocannabinoid system is integral in your overall wellness, especially as it pertains to your mental health.
Try a newexercise, something you never wouldve done before and thatdoesnt require leaving your living room.
There are so manyfree YouTube classesstart at the VERY beginning (not intermediateoradvanced) and enjoy a beginners mindset.
You dont have to be the best or do the most or win.
Theres nothing to win.
it’s possible for you to just be yourself.
Taking care of plantsreminds you that youre just like them.
It helps you be gentle with yourself and everyone around you.
Make it sustainable: Start witha plant thats hard to kill, like a snake plant or an ivy.
Get some seedlings and watch something grow from the bottom up.
Then get something really beautiful that makes you smile every time you look at it.
I thinkthis short filmabout the power of plants really says it all.
Delicious doesnt have to mean expensive or even well-thought-out.
Who knows, you might fuck around andmake something delightful.
Finger painting andcoloring booksare good places to start.
Remember when you wanted to learn how to turn a cartwheel?
Why did you stop trying to do that?
Give It a Try.
Fall flat on your face, make a mess, and then do it again.
Find something small and manageable that doesnt require throwing your back out.
If necessary,addit to your bucket list, go there, and then check it off your list.
I dont care if you like your voice or hate itLET YOUR SPIRIT RING!
In my experience, I feel so much better afterward.
Theres gotta besomething.
How about that book youve been trying to finish for years?
Or that craft box you got as a gift last year but never opened?
You deserve to be cared for.
You deserve to have someone looking out for you.
The only way you could take care of others is if you take care of yourself first.
