Changing Attitudes

Well, it's that time of the year again. Christmas trees are being disassembled and wrestled out the house, with valiant, but vain attempts to prevent the inevitable flurry of pin leaves onto the newly-bought cream carpet. Baubles, once displayed in all their glory, are wrapped up in a depressing bundle of toilet paper packaging and the knitted nativity scene is carefully tucked into a paper bag until next year. The fairy lights are hastily shoved into a plastic bag after the fight with the under-sized box they arrived in was lost and the enormous knot, which was discreetly hidden at the back of the tree, is ignored until the next time, when a mood of festivity and cheer will no doubt provide a more fitting environment to combat the monstrous tangle of green wire and miniature bulbs.

I always find January a bittersweet month. One of two halves. Yes, it marks the arrival of a new year and ' a new start' - (in other words, another chance to reintroduce last year's resolutions to see if this time you'll do better at keeping to them!). It brings with it a new hope, untapped potential and a host of unknown opportunities to explore. On the other hand, it also brings in Winter with a vengeance. It is heralded with dark, cold mornings of scraping frost off the car in order to get to work. Numb fingers. Numb toes. Driving to work in the dark... driving home from work in the dark. Pale faces and sniffly noses.

As the holiday draws to a close and the work emails are switched back on, it is easy to become wistful of the season just gone - one of festive cheer and goodwill to all... an attitude which quickly fades as grey, mundane reality kicks in. It's easy to adopt an attitude of bad-temper, of complaining and negativity as the alarm sounds at 6am and we trudge off to work again.

This year, I challenge myself (and you!) to reject the 'January blues'. To greet each and every day with the reverence and thankfulness that it deserves. To notice the little things. The little miracles which greet us every day.

Notice the stunning, entirely unique patterns which the frost creates on the windscreen of your car before you scrape it off.

As you drive to/from work in the dark, notice the sunrise/set majestically over the horizon - and the array of colours splashed across the sky.

Notice the smile of the child in your class asking for help, instead of their sniffly nose.

This year, I choose to count my blessings... even on a dark, rainy and stressful day which is demanding all of my energy. Because, I believe that when you look for the good, you will find it. And in seeking God's touch on the world, you will be blown away by his goodness, mercy and graciousness towards you. 

 'Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world'.

Sarah Ban Breathnach