The last few months I have been working quietly on my own, mostly at home and lately more often in the new studio. I have relished this time. As a deeply introverted person, which is maybe not that evident if you have met me at a show or seen me on the TV occasionally, I have a very basic instinctual need to spend time on my own away from the hurley burly of life and other people.
Being introverted generally means that you are able to gain energy and recharge your batteries spending time quietly on your own. As opposed to more extroverted types who enjoy, and even crave the company of others and gain their energy from spending time with other people. So the last few months of self-imposed exile (or hibernation) have, in some ways, been utter bliss for me. As I may have mentioned in previous journal posts, my daughter gave me the book Wintering by Katherine May for Christmas and I devoured it within days. It really resonated with me and how I was feeling about retreating and ‘wintering’ away from the world.
I also believe deeply that we need to feel greater connection to the natural world in order to truly be a part of it. We are completely surrounded by, are in and of nature. And to try and ignore or mask this in our daily lives is living a lie that will come back and bite us on the arse.
This really became apparent to me during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 when I wrote my book Sewing For the Soul. This was when I had time to properly notice how time was passing and gently changing the natural world around me. I lost sight of this over the last couple of years, but I am hyper aware of it now and how I need to structure my life around the natural cycle of things.
So I have allowed myself this time of Wintering, to hunker down and heal. Making plans for what is to come and becoming more aware of How I want to be, not just What. But the Wheel is turning and Imbolc passed on the 1st February marking the beginning of Spring.
The reawakening.
And so must I, to the opportunities that are presenting themselves and the possibilities to come. It’s time to gradually shrug off the winter coat and allow the new growth through.
With this in mind I have been to my first group business coaching session today. I have been incredibly fortunate to have worked with amazing business coaches for the last few years on a 1:1 basis. They have been incredibly supportive and got me through the really tough times. But now it is just me in my new Team of One and I find I need the input and support from other likeminded souls. The group of people I was with today I have known for a while as part of the coaching network I belong to, so familiar faces. It was so good to be with other people I didn’t need to explain myself to, because they just get it - running a business that is.
Our coach has a terrible sense of humour - properly questionable. But it immediately puts you at ease and you know you are in a safe space to have your ideas challenged, motives probed and actions questioned. Because it all comes from a place of love and support. It has been wonderful today to feel like I am part of something again. To know that there are people who have my back and I can call on for support and advice.
I felt a little like the proverbial grizzly poking their toes out of the den after months of hibernation. But it feels good to be working with other people again. I still need my ‘alone time’ with the business and I get so much more done if I can just get my head down and focus on a goal. But I can feel there is something in the air - the changes in birdsong and the green shoots emerging.
Maybe I’m ready to change my way of working alongside the gentle change in seasons? It’s time to start putting some of the plans I have been mulling over the last few months into play and see what grows and develops. I am actually looking forward to this year and the positive changes that it will bring. I will keep you posted on the plans I am working on and I will be bouncing more ideas off my coaching colleagues to help put them into action.
Working with the Seasons just seems the most logical way to live my life now. Does this also make sense to you? Do you live Seasonally too?
Jules x
Ann Donovan
I so get this! “Wintering” is one of my all time favourite books too! I am an introvert and find “the dark months” of the year very difficult. I realised how much I need to get into the rhythm of the natural world to make the most of all the good things in life, appreciate things and stop fretting as much as I do! We’ve had a challenging year as my husband was diagnosed with a serious heart problem and he’s been going through the process of full diagnosis before treatment. It’s made me realise just how precious life is and how we should grab it with both hands and make the most of it. Time is the one thing we can never get back.