The new year is here and just like we said, nothing magical happened when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve as we drifted into January 1, 2021. But you know what? Even though I wrote it and I said it to many people, I was still somehow let down a little. I was still strangely disappointed that 2021 didn’t usher in new mojo, high vibes, or a unicorn with magical glitter dripping from its mane. 

We opted to move into the new year slowly, to ease into it, instead of our usual full speed ahead. 2020 was quite the reckoning of far too many circumstances to list, but you lived it. You know. Part of that moving slowly included returning to blogging the second full week of the year. 

We thought allowing another week to push fluids that didn’t contain a hint of alcohol or sugar or maybe not quite so much caffeine would be good for us (and you). A week of green veggies, fresh juices and more regular schedules and consistent sleep. Friends, as we know, this is the dark side of self care. It’s eating your vegetables, staying hydrated, going to bed on time, getting up when your alarm says to and for the love, turning OFF Netflix. It’s doing all the things you know to take care of yourself that feel an awful lot like how I imagine castor oil tastes, especially when you aren’t chasing it with a sugar cookie, or licorice or Boom Chicka Pop.

Don’t get me wrong, I like hydration and salads and vegetables and even getting good sleep. But once you get into any kind of routine, healthy or not, it’s hard to “break on through to the other side” as The Doors would say.

Let’s be real, much of 2020 was a collapse of good behaviors in one way or another. It seems ridiculous to say that because while I know in some areas of my life that’s 100% true, there are other areas where I had the most productive year of my life, ever! 

Of course, much like all of you, we had no idea that the first full week of the new year would require its own recovery. Our idea that we needed to go slowly was sadly affirmed. Since the strike of midnight on January 1 we have moved slower, more deliberately. And truth be told, we have flat out stopped at times because moving forward felt too fast. 

What I do know for sure is that Lowi and I are approaching 2021 a lot like a feral cat. We are approaching with caution. We are going to talk sweetly to it, we are going to call it by gushingly kind monikers like, kitten and sunshine and sweetheart and hope we can intoxicate it with a sugar high. We are going to affirm the %^&#$ out of 2021 so it feels good about itself and is sure it can be a good year. 

Something like this, “You are a good year, oh yes you are. Who’s a pretty year?” You know, basically the way we talk to our cat and dogs. 

The reality is that a new year is here and still are all of our collective issues. That’s not to say that intentions, resolutions or goals are not welcome. They are and I’ve got them. But I am also clear-eyed and understand that much of what got me through 2020 was self-care. We still need to hold firmly to those skills because we’re still in a pandemic. We are still in much the same place we were in late December and we’re even more mentally tired than we were before.

So this January (and maybe even beyond), we realize we need to Go Slow. We aren’t quitting. We aren’t resigned. We are simply lucid enough to know that this is like an ultra race. It takes patience, consistency, walking when you need to and sometimes you’ll get blisters. Welcome 2021 we’re glad you’re here. We haven’t given up on you yet. And to everyone else, we are glad you’re STILL here too. Go Slow, smaller steps forward are still progress. If you need to pause and rest, then do that. 

Sunshine & Sarcasm,
Lowi & G