December Blooms

Sitting here on a Saturday exactly one week after some harrowing tornadoes hit our area (13 touched down) and as it starts to rain slightly, I immediately look at the weather map to see what’s happening. It is no joke here, and in 10 years there have been several memorable December storms. The timing is always difficult, because the weather often turns cold right after the storm hits and so many people struggle to find somewhere warm to be. I am proud of our community for stepping up, and there is a great movement here to help those in need. That is very much a relief, as we live in such a conflicted world sometimes, to see people drop their guard to assist.

And it’s Christmas time and the end of the year, which leads to reflection over what ‘this year’ offered us and how it all panned out. All I really know is that it seemed to fly by and I am still hanging on for dear life!

The last 3 years, I’ve baked extensively. Made 100 mini pies in 2020! Never more than that, but the following years have had their offerings too. But this year I haven’t baked anything. In fact, I have what I’d call ‘kitchen paralysis’ — I walk into the kitchen and freeze. No inspo to bake. Well, maybe you should bake something! No, not succumbing to the ‘shoulds’ right now! I dig in my heels. This year is different. And I’m ok with it.

I’m in a shift. It’s good. The yoga I’ve pledged to do this month is really helping. My body is like, ‘thank you so much. this is the best gift you’ve ever given me.’ Even just a little, even if its in a chair - a little breath, a little stretch. It is a relief. We carry so much tension. So wound that we may not even notice until the unwinding begins, and as that unravel embarks, be ready, because there’s more where that came from.

I am grateful. I am looking at my Christmas Cactus blooming at me and she beams. In the morning light, I am so happy to greet her and her other plant friends. My orchids bloom. My violets bloom, too. December bloom, who knew? So I’m planting and repotting and reordering as I do, Bloom bloom, bloom, as you! There is love in these blooms. There are roots. There is breath. There is peace.

First bloom of the year from Ogee, my christmas cactus.