Winter Reflections

December 12, 2023

Note From Rochelle

Dear writers,

Most of the groups I belong to have wrapped up for the year, including the Goddess group. I miss them. These groups have helped me to stay focused, write more, and stay encouraged. If you’ve been feeling lonely and discouraged about writing, consider joining the Writing Accountability Group. We start meeting at the end of January. Feel free to email me with questions.

Happy writing,

Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach

Winter Reflections

by Rochelle Melander

Usually at this time of year, I send out a peppy tip on how to plan for the year to come. I still might.

But right now, I’m experiencing the need for quiet reflection. I don’t want to plan—yet. I want to listen to music, read long books, and reflect a bit on the year past.

Only you can measure your year. And only you can decide what to measure it against. I encourage you to think about two or three values you treasure. Then look at the year and consider what experiences helped you to live from your values.

As you reflect, I want you to have some encouragement from the wise ones. I have a few books that I love to reread. Here are three of them with quotes from each.

TJ Klune wrote a lovely book about a found family, The House in the Cerulean Sea. This quote reminds me that making art is essential to a happy life:

“We should always make time for the things we like. If we don’t, we might forget how to be happy.” —TJ Klune

Becky Chambers book A Psalm for the Wild-Built is one of my favorite meditations on friendship and productivity.

“You keep asking why your work is not enough, and I don’t know how to answer that, because it is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it. You don’t need to justify that, or earn it. You are allowed to just live.” —Becky Chambers

In Katherine May’s Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, she talks about what wintering looks like for her—and how she cares for herself through the winters of her life.

“When I started feeling the drag of winter, I began to treat myself like a favoured child: with kindness and love. I assumed my needs were reasonable and that my feelings were signals of something important. I kept myself well fed and made sure I was getting enough sleep. I took myself for walks in the fresh air and spent time doing things that soothed me. I asked myself: What is this winter all about? I asked myself: What change is coming?” —Katherine May