Five Things to Remember from January
I’ve seen several references to the practice of writing “five things” in various places, but I most recently saw it in Medea Lee Patel’s Substack, Dear Somebody. She logs and five things each week! That’s ambitious.
So here are five things I want to remember from January,
2025.
One. Narratives still have the power to settle my brain. I
was grateful to re-learn this after several fragmented days early in the month—days
that included the mixed gratitude, reverence, and sorrow from the funeral of
President Jimmy Carter.
A story, a beginning middle end, whether it’s an episode of
a cop or lawyer or medical show, a home renovation, a couple looking to Escape
to the Country—that cycle brings things to a satisfying conclusion. My brain
likes that, especially at 2 a.m.
Two. Speaking of death: from experiencing the death of
several friends and acquaintances in the past six months, I’ve gained a new
understanding of and appreciation for obituaries. How on earth can one life be
summed up in a few words? And yet we must try.
Three. It’s hard to ask for help sometimes, especially when
it involves humbly admitting you know nothing. But I did this month, and the
help was really, actually helpful—so reassuring emotionally AND educational.
This was about the snowblower but it could have been about many things.
Four. Two book clubs in two days. What is this, some kind of
heaven? One meeting was held IN OUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE, with HOMEMADE
BAKING, which could be better only if they also sold coffee. (We brought our
own, which also works.) The other meeting was at a home where the hosts always
go ALL OUT, and we were discussing my husband’s most recent novel*, so what’s
not to love. It was a good weekend, is what I’m saying.
See? Light! This is in the morning.
We've had some gorgeous sunrises lately.
Five. This is the month when we start saying things like
“look at how light it still is—and it’s 5 PM!” I always miss the sun even more
than I imagine I will. And it’s not just sunny days that we welcome—those gloomy
cloudy days have the benefit of being slightly warmer than the clear brittle
sunshiny days. I saw a graphic recently that showed we’re through the ten
darkest weeks of the year. So that’s something.
On Instagram, I also post about some (but not all) of the books I read. In January, I posted about
- Longbourn, Jo Baker (a book club pick)
- Peace Like a River, Leif Enger
- The Great Circle, Maggie Shipstead
- James, Percival Everett
And while we're looking, here's to looking for light in the dark months.
*THE DEVIL’S VIOLIN: MYLLYSILTA’S HISTORY, available through
Amazon and through Entershine Bookshop in Thunder Bay.