Did you know that the original Roman calendar only had 10 months, accounting for 304 days? The remaining 61 1/4 days had no designated month or day. Unsurprisingly, these unaccounted days occurred during the winter. This early Roman calendar commenced in spring and concluded sometime after the fall harvest. It is believed that Emperor Numa Pompilius eventually added the remaining months. Before that, there was a time when days went uncounted and unnamed, a period dedicated to literal rest and timelessness.
In contrast to that ancient pace, modern times seem to demand constant productivity, unaltered diet and workout plans, and unwavering pressure throughout the year. What if we allowed the changing seasons to influence us, encouraging us to slow down, engage in art projects, read, cook slow & healthy meals, and approach everything a bit more gently? Perhaps this also includes saying ‘no’ when ‘yes’ doesn’t align with our true feelings. Resting is acceptable. After all, every other living being takes an extended break throughout the year. The message is clear: a natural rhythm of expansion in spring and summer, and contraction in fall and winter.
If your exercise or diet plans feel unsuccessful, it might be because your body is signalling a need to slow down and demanding more gentleness. Embracing your natural inclination to decelerate can make it easier to go with the flow and support your beautiful body. This season, my wish for you is to find gentleness and softness in your human experience. Turn off the TV and Instagram, cozy up with a delicious cup of tea, and indulge in a puzzle, art project, or that book you’ve been meaning to read. Let’s reclaim our human nature, rooted deep within us, and initiate a gentle rebellion against a culture that suggests we’re not good enough unless we acquire more things.
True appreciation for our lives and bodies emerges when we slow down enough to give ourselves time for internal work and contemplation. The perfect gift to yourself this winter season.
