We made it! We’re over the huge hurdle that is January and we’re getting 2022 moving along. I try not to dwell on how long January feels, but man, it felt loooong this year. I don’t know whether it was the anticipation for what 2022 holds or because we’re still living in a pandemic, but it crawled by. Has it been the same for you? Let me know!
But despite the tedious slowness of the month, there was (as always) lots to be grateful for. If you’re new to The Northernist, I write a post like this at the end of every month to chat about what I was grateful for. It’s a way to be thankful for the small things and reflect on the past month. So here’s what I was grateful for in January 2022!
Walking in nature – my mum bought Matthew and I matching walking boots for Christmas, and we loved breaking them in during January. It was so nice to plan little trips for the weekend, get some steps in and breathe some new air. So far, our walks have taken us to Plessey Woods (somewhere new for me – I loved it!) and Low/High Force (somewhere new for Matthew, who enjoyed feeling like he was on The Witcher). I’ve been debating whether I write up a blog post about the latter with our advice for getting the best walk out of the trip – let me know your thoughts.
A week of wellbeing – this is what I’m calling it in my head. But in reality, I’m starting a new job (and it’s my first day as you’re reading this!) and had a little free week at the end of January before I started. And I used this week to just slow right down to do things that I enjoy. I went to the gym a bunch of times, did some fun writing bits, did some baking – it was basically a dreamy week just for me. It helped me to totally relax, but also fire me up for a new start.
Instagram – I don’t know what it was, but I really enjoyed being on Instagram in January. I didn’t really post all that much, but I discovered a lot of new accounts and I gained a whole bunch of new followers too. I liked seeing everybody’s fresh 2022 content and watching my pals grow. I don’t know, Instagram really was a highlight!
The success of my partner’s biz – Matthew has been totally smashing it lately and 2022 got off to an amazing start for his little side biz. He owns a video production business called Pyro Media, and I help out sometimes, but 80% is him. And in January, he got to work with Penguin Random House (yaknow that mega national publishing company!) to do some filming for a new book launch with a local author. It was such a gorgeous experience and we can’t wait to see the final videos. And not only that, but he only went and won an award for Durham wedding videography! It’s been a great start for him and I’ve been so proud to watch him flourish.
The lighter mornings – one of my favourite things about November/December is the dark, cosy nights that beg for a blanket and hot chocolate. But those dark mornings… they’re in my Room 101. So now that the lighter mornings have been creeping back in throughout January, I’m happy to wake up at a decent time (although I definitely do still like a sleep in). It’s such a mood lifter to see the sun starting to appear earlier than 8AM!
So those were the five things that I was grateful for in January. February is already shaping up to be a good one, with my new job, Teesside Restaurant Week 2022, and so much more! Let me know what you were grateful for in January in the comments.
