One step at a time

One step at a time

It’s that time of year when things always seem bleakest. The light is coming back, but oh so slowly, and you still seem to start work before it is light, and finish after dark. And without seeing any of the day – even when working from home. Time to take things one step at a time.

A lot has happened since the last post. This goes out to all who find January harder to bear than the other winter months. November has fireworks. December has Christmas. January, the month when nothing seems to happen at all. When you just want it to be at least February. My students seem to find this part of the year hardest too, and with them in mind I wrote a few lines to help us remember to celebrate the small things – no matter how small they are. And to take each day one step at a time.

There have been days of long white walks and even longer blue skies, and although you can (should?) only go out from home, there’s something to find in every walk if you take the time to look. Even if it’s only a short walk between zooms!

I was moved to write about berries I saw on a recent walk in the snow. I love rubies, (well, truth be told, I love sparkly things) and I loved Keats when I studied him for ‘O’ level (that dates me!). It’s his 200 year anniversary this year, and the Poetry Society have a whole programme if you’re interested, starting with a read along on the 20th January.

Celebrate the small things

I combined my love of Keats and red and sparkly things, and came up with a poem, because it’s what I do, (Poetry for Lives) and to help us remember to celebrate the small things – no matter how small they are. I’ve put some of the lines here:

…iced berries, like frosted rubies,
await the raw sunshine warmth of the day.
…a bright red smile to get us through to spring.
A silent expectation of hope.