Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering, and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities.
From the Desk of Lori Davidson - January 2022
Happy New Year!
As much as things change, they remain the same. We all go through challenging times in our lives, and January is a wonderful time to recharge our batteries. For me, time with family does this, although this January it is also nice to look forward to evenings with a good book, a cat (or two) in my lap, a roaring fire, and spending time watching it snow.
What a whirlwind the past two months have been for my family. My daughter, hubby, and granddaughter came for the week of Thanksgiving. We celebrated Christmas and Hanukkah. I’d scrambled to decorate for the holidays early. They’d rented a small cottage at my lake as my cottage is too small to comfortably accommodate them and their rambunctious dog for an entire week (not to mention my two cats wouldn’t have liked it at all)! The visit all worked out, but I’d shopped for gifts, groceries for both cottages, and decorated each abode before their arrival all when work schedules permitted. Exhausted and happy was my week's motto.
The weather fortunately held out for travel times, yet they did get to experience the beauty of snow on my little lake. It was Ziva’s first time in the snow. She thought it was great but at a year and a half, the warm clothing made it hard to really navigate the ground! My grand-dog Lucy, however, enjoyed it all immensely. Plus, my mom got to meet her great-granddaughter for the first time! There was a lot to be grateful for around our Thanksgiving table.
My youngest daughter arrived mid-December to stay through the Christmas and New Year holidays. So, there wasn’t much time between visits to “regroup”.
Thankfully we’d all been boosted so that was one worry lessened (although we all remained careful in our safety protocols).
My mom is 89 and it had been a while since I’d been able to spend time with her on Christmas Eve. For the past decade my youngest daughter resided in San Diego, so I had always taken advantage of the holiday work slowdown and spent the Christmas breaks with her. Last year she relocated to Charleston but with lockdowns and no vaccines yet available even though she was visiting me at the lake, we were unable to spend in person time over the holidays with my mom. This year Caroline and I were able to go out for a bit on Christmas Eve afternoon. It was a fun time, and my sisters had their pets there so everyone enjoyed a bit of Santa’s (and Santa-paw’s) surprises. My kitties, of course, stayed home at the lake. (Don’t fret, they enjoyed a bit of quiet time and they both had a fun time Christmas day. Santa-paw was very good to them too.)
This January I’m focusing on gratitude, letting go (or trying to) of the negativity in the news that so easily can drag your mood downward. Daily I’m choosing happiness, reaching out to family and/or friends and reminding myself to give thanks for our continued health (not all remain so fortunate). I take joy in knowing all of you.
I’m feeling so blessed having been able to surround myself with family this holiday season. Perspective is a good thing. When you’ve been unable over time to gather it is easier to let go of any little family squabbles, or forgo those past excuses not to gather, and simply enjoy time together laughing. I hope you were able to do the same.
We want you to know you are all part of our Pet Perennials family. We value all of you, whether we talk to you once a month or once a year. It takes a village to fill a life. Take time to reach out to each other, to your own friends and family. Stop each day often, to embrace the moments of happiness that are uniquely your own. Savor those moments. Stop and pet the cat. Take a break so you and your dog can go for a walk. Call a friend. Bake cookies for your elderly neighbor. Smell the coffee. Take a nap. These are the simple things that provide joy. Don't rush through your days. Taking time to make these things a priority in your life creates for you an abundant, genuinely happy life.
Just one last saying to start off the year; one last saying to help keep gratitude in our hearts.
Wishing you all the best!
Lori
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