Winter Slow Down

The energy cycle of slowing down, shifting out of the summertime go go go, begins when the weather start cooling down signaling the changing of seasons. Autumn is taking a few deep breaths and knowing then end of all the activity is near. At least until November hits and then all the Holiday Hoo-Ha-Ha sets me on edge again. But October, October is for breathing.

The arrival of the first proper snow signals the full slow down. Rushing around, trying to squeeze everything into a few sunny months is over. I will be photographing less. Not because there is nothing to photograph during winter, but because I don’t have the clothing required to be out in the cold. Yes, I’ve lived through 48 cold snowy winters and I still don’t own a proper winter coat or good boots.

With less of my time being focused on photography, I do more knitting and crocheting. I return to writing fiction and reading more books. Cozy things. Warm things. It’s a form of seasonal living that becomes more important to be every year. While I’ll look forward to warmer weather all winter, I never long for summer in the way I long for autumn.

But, this shift, this going with my own creative flows, isn’t algorithm friendly or ‘expert’ business advice approved. And that is OK. We have given platforms & the computer codes that run them massive amounts of control and power over our lives. As if we have absorbed these codes into ourselves and allowed them to become our operating system. This isn’t how humans evolved to live.

Every time you move in sync to your own energy flows, your own curiosities and desires, you pull yourself out of the artificial cycles of our society. You are more you. I am more me.

I will share creative expressions that aren’t what some subscribers are interested in. Some of you will have come for photography and be annoyed to find rants on New Age Wank.

That is ok. None of us are perfect fits for everyone all of the time. Having separate places for sharing my fiction writing journey and fiber work is as close as I can get to following any kind of niche down advice or going all in on one thing advice. Honestly, both of those things sound really boring to me. I would not be able to sustain those kinds of businesses. I know. I’ve tried.

Our creativity has its own cycles and flows. Yours will be different than mine. That is how it should be. It’s important to understand your own energy flows. That way you can set up your life/business/wtf ever in ways that work for you.

Where is your energy going? Are you resting when your energy is low or are you trying to push through?

Are you copying some ‘expert’s plan? Are you following your curiosity and desire?

I will spend less time photographing things. There will be fewer drives to places to photograph. Maybe this will be the winter I finish a novel or a book of knitting and crochet patterns. Then spring will return and the moss and I will renew our friendship.