Winter had arrived.
The anticipation,
Excitement,
And joviality of the festive season had come to a close,
And January arrived cold and wet.
While it was true that the days were slowly starting to get longer again,
It didn't do much to ease the somewhat overwhelming feeling of the time of year.
The sun,
Still present,
Was more often than not tucked away behind a seemingly endless blanket of heavy grey clouds which threatened to break out into rain at any given moment.
Hats,
Coats,
Gloves,
And thick socks were the dress code of the day.
Noses red and fingers chilly as heads were lowered against the cold air,
Which somehow always managed to find its way in through the smallest of gaps in clothing.
The trees and bushes and gardens were stripped of their greenery,
Branches exposed to the cold air,
No foliage or berries left to brighten the landscape that seemed to be made of a palette of grey.
Birds flitted from place to place,
Searching for whatever food was still available,
Appreciating the feeders that stood in people's gardens,
Which offered much-needed opportunities for seeds,
Suet,
And other tasty snacks to help see them through the cold weather.
When they paused on fences and branches,
Their little feathery bodies puffed up as they tried to retain the warmth while they looked to see where their next meal might be coming from.
The remaining evergreens and ferns provided much-needed shelter and protection from the elements for wildlife looking for warmth and comfort.
With no obvious signs of growth or new beginnings,
It would be easy to understand why one might feel that it would be difficult to focus on the future or the potential of things to come.
But,
Hidden from plain sight,
Tucked away in its own little world resting beneath the surface of the earth,
Was a seed.
A tiny,
Plain,
Simple seed,
Tightly packed in amongst the soil,
Was waiting for its day when it would start a new beginning.
For this seed was filled with potential,
Its ability to change into something beautiful and strong,
Something that would bring joy to anyone who saw it.
But this process cannot be rushed.
The seed could not push forward and grow until the time was right,
Until it had the support,
The conditions and the environment that it needed to become the best version of itself.
For while January was the start of a new year from the calendar's perspective,
The winter season meant that this was not the time for new beginnings.
Not just yet.
Everything within the earth was still asleep,
Still resting and waiting for its time when it could start afresh.
The trees were sleeping,
Their new leaves waiting for warmer weather before they could unfurl and turn their green surfaces up towards the sun.
The flowers,
Though not all of them,
Were waiting for insects to emerge from their sleep before they opened their petals to spread their cheerful colors.
The seed would not need to sleep for too much longer though.
For the information,
The building blocks of life contained within it would soon be realized,
And its new form could be presented to the world.
But for now,
The seed had everything it needed to ensure it had the best chance to be the best version of itself.
For this was a time to look inwards,
Contemplate,
Rest,
Restore,
And plan for what potential could be achieved when the time was right.
The cold winter months offer a time of reflection and focusing on what lies inside.
There is still beauty and wonder in the colder,
Darker days.
For creation begins in the darkness,
When we are wrapped in protection.
Before there can be light,
There must be darkness.
And light and darkness work in harmony together.
There cannot be one without the other.
Darkness offers the opportunity to pause,
To observe,
To reassess,
And to re-energize until the light finds us again.
Sleep tight.
