Be-Twixtmas and Be-Tweenmas
The period between Christmas and New Year is a weird time of year. The Orthodox churches won’t be celebrating the birth of Jesus until 7th January, and the Christmas season doesn’t officially end until Candlemas on February 2nd but the supermarkets have already swept away the Christmas decorations. The shelves are now full of hot cross buns and Easter eggs. It’s no wonder our mental health suffers at this time of year. The days are short, the nights are long and commercialism is trying to whip us up into another spending frenzy. What we all need is to take some Action for Happiness.
Stopping and Starting
Lots of us will have made New Year’s Resolutions that involve giving up something such as alcohol or meat (or in my case, general overeating). As well as denying myself in the cause of losing weight (ho hum) I’m starting something new this year. One of my Christmas presents was a voucher for a beginners art class.
I’m really excited about that. I’ve been sketching during odd moments over the past few days, because it’s been a very long time since I did any art. My powers of observation need to be sharpened up before I’m let loose on a canvas.
While I’m busy with pencils and charcoal, I’m not thinking about food – at least, that’s the theory. The trouble is, I use food as a crutch. I eat to cheer myself up, then I feel miserable because I’ve got no willpower. That’s why I’m also following Action for Happiness’s campaign on social media for a Happier January.
Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation which aims to build a happier and kinder world. You can find out more about the movement here. Here’s their action plan for January:
Sometimes I find it hard to look a week ahead, let alone look forward to things any further in the future. At times like that, the first day of January’s challenge would have me waiting for the first snowdrops to some into flower, for the frogs to discover our new pond, and the next meeting of local writing groups.
Luckily, I’m feeling pretty cheerful at the moment. It didn’t take me long on New Year’s Day to think of three things I’m looking forward to this year…
Three Good Things
- I’ll soon be watching my daughter being presented with her MA (with Merit!) in Museum Studies,
- I’ve got tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show, and
- I’m hoping to go up to London in the autumn and watch sumo.
On 2nd January I spent some time sketching, and today, 3rd January I gave OH the last slice of cake from the tin. Unfortunately, that triumph was really a cheat. I wanted to wash up the tin. If I hadn’t given him that slice, I would have been forced to eat it myself!
The next task on the Action for Happiness calendar is “Write a list of things you feel grateful for, and why.” That may take me some time…
Now It’s Your Turn…
Why don’t you have a go at one or two of these challenges, in aid of happiness? Let me know how you get on!
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