Hello! It’s been awhile, friends! Maybe even a very long while for some of you. Life has really been life-ing, and I’ve had to take some time to figure out what was next for this little space. My wellness journey looks a lot different than it did just a few years ago, and figuring out how to translate my own journey into something practical to share with others has taken time and a lot of prayer.

So now here we are. I’m getting back to my roots and relaunching my newsletter. This community is the exact place I need to start. It allows me to directly reach you with wellness resources and encouragement for your spiritual and wellness journeys, and on the flip side, you also get direct access to me. You can simply reply to any email message and it will come straight to me. We can talk, you can ask questions, send me your thoughts – we can actually connect. I’m excited to catch up with you, so please be sure to reach to out!

With all that said, I want to get to the trees and my unsolicited advice for this time around the New Year. 

Over the past several years, I’ve been making an effort to live more seasonally – or more in alignment with the natural cycles and rhythms of the earth. I know that sounds a little “woo” to some, but truthfully, when you start paying attention to nature and how nature responds to the different seasons, it gives us real insight into how to better live in harmony – both with ourselves and with the natural world around us. And, if you believe in God, The Creator of All Things, you know that everything in creation has a purpose. The cycles of nature are a part of God’s creation and have meaning and purpose.
This time of year, I end up giving a lot of attention to the trees. It’s winter now, but just a few short weeks ago, I was watching the leaves change color – bright oranges, yellows and reds – a beautiful display before the leaves fell. Now that it’s winter and the trees are mostly bare, it’s easy to think that the trees are dormant, or sleeping, but they aren’t. During the colder winter months, tress put all their energy into building their foundations – they grow their root systems deeper and wider, and build up nutrient stores. The trees know that there’s no point into putting energy into leaves – the first frost would destroy the leaves anyway. The trees put their energy into the things that matter during each given season. In the spring, they can put their energy into growing taller above ground, putting on leaves and flowers and fruit, but first the trees have to do the foundational work in winter to set the stage for strength, stability and growth in the spring and summer seasons.

I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this: we as humans need to do this same thing. The world is yelling at us right now to start making our New Year’s resolutions, and to set a bunch of goals, to get to the gym, and to figure out how to embody the phrase “New Year, New You”. Yeah, no thanks. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. This past year has been full of a lot of changes, hard work, busy schedules and just overall ups and downs. Beyond that, the entire holiday season went by really fast and was really busy for us in its own ways. I’m not ready to start new fitness or wellness programs. I’m not ready to set major goals for myself. It’s winter. I’m ready to slow down a little, take some deep breaths, and to work on my foundations a little bit. I need to do some of my foundational work so that I’m prepared to grow and flourish in the Spring.

So, what does that mean in practical terms? That means that instead of following all the social cues to set new goals and kick the new year off with a bang, I’m going to sit back and do some reflection, and work on all the habits I’ve already been working on all year. I’m not starting anything new. This time of year has become a time of deep reflection for me: really thinking about lessons I’ve learned over the past year, how to incorporate those lessons and grow from them, how to become the best version (yet) of myself, what I want to see for myself and my family over the next year, and what truly matters to me in the next year. Beyond the inner work that I’m doing, I’m continuing on with the health and wellness habits that I was already working on this year.

I’d like to encourage you to join me in being like the trees. Take the time to slow down a bit, reflect on the past year, pray, seek some real discernment about what your focus should be on in the coming year. Don’t fall for the New Year’s hype. Don’t let yourself feel pressured to rush into the New Year. Take your cues from the trees and the natural world around you, lean into the season of winter and its natural rhythms.

Practical Takeaways and Application

 In case you’re not really sure where to start, I’ll share a few things that I’ll be working on over the next few weeks.
 – Spiritual Health. Daily prayer, meditation, reading the Bible and other spiritual texts, devotional studies, etc. A personal relationship with The Creator of All Things, seeking discernment and clarity.
 – Reflection on the Past Year. Once again, I’m going to be reflecting on, and praying about, the past year. Seeking clarity and wisdom and any lessons to be learned, how to apply those lessons in the coming year, and how to grow from those lessons.
– Move My Body Daily. When I’m at my best, I take a walk every day and also do some sort of intentional exercise or movement – pilates, stretching, strength training, grounding movements and exercises.
– Get Sunshine and Fresh Air Daily. Even when it’s cold, even when I’m sick, I feel my best (or better when sick) when I bundle up and get outside. I try to subscribe to the adage that there’s no such thing as bad weather – there’s just weather – and unless it’s a hurricane or tornado, etc., a little cold or rain won’t hurt me. Fresh air and sunshine are vital for mind, body and soul health.
– Stay Hydrated. I drink water throughout the day and add a pinch of sea salt or Redmond’s Real Salt in my water cup. The electrolytes and minerals in the salt help your cells and tissues better absorb, and use, the water you drink, which means better hydration on a cellular level.

– Eat at Home. After a holiday season of treats and eating meals out, I’m just focusing on eating at home as much as possible and making our meals as much as possible. Lots of (naturally nutrient-dense) soups and stews will be on the winter menu. 

That’s it. That’s what I’m going to be working on as we head into the New Year. I’m not starting anything new. I’m just continuing on with some foundational wellness habits. In a few weeks, I’ll do some foundation building exercises that will help me map out the year ahead and set some goals for myself. I’ll be sure to share those exercises with you as well in case you might find them helpful. In the meantime, these basics are what I’m working on. I’m reminding my mind, body and soul what matters, what’s truly important and focusing on building a solid foundation during this winter season.

How will you kick off the New Year? Are you going kick it off with a bang or opt for a quieter, slower, more wintery tree-like approach? I want to hear from you, so reply to this email with your thoughts. As always, I encourage you to pray and seek The Creator Of All Things (God) for discernment and guidance. Your spiritual health is the foundation for your mental/emotional and physical health as well. Always trust God’s leading over what I, or anyone else, says.

I wish you the Happiest New Year, and a peaceful, quiet, reflective, foundation-building winter season! I’ll be back in this space soon to share with you my foundation building exercises and some of my personal spiritual and wellness cornerstones. Take care!

With gratitude, sending love and blessings,
Kelly