A Gold Friday after Blue Monday
And 'Don't Give Up' Guided Meditation
We survived the polar vortex. And “Blue Monday”. The saddest day of the year, apparently. I've always carried mixed feelings about Blue Monday. On the one hand, it's so refreshing and healing to hear others speak out loud about feeling sad. I mean, even our go-to radio station’s morning host was doling out helpful tips and comforting, near concerned, words like; “Please take care of yourself. Go for a walk, call a friend. Just do whatever you need to do.” It feels reassuring. “They understand! Finally, they understand what that heaviness is like. The one that exists outside the acceptable reasons, like pain and grief and loss. The one that’s just…there.” (By the way, don't you always just wonder who "they" are? These mysterious authorities in charge of such official matters. Is there a special department for Day Naming? How many “theys” are they? Do they sit around a table? Do they use power point or excel sheets? I mean, how do they make sure that International Pet Day doesn’t get double booked with Sibling Day? And just how International are we talking here?)
Yet on the other hand…the idea that you only get a one day allowance for ‘no explanation required’ sadness, can make it worse for us regularly sad folks. “What about all the other days?? Like Blue Tuesday or Saturday? What about entire months? Blue September?? Or what about…what about the years?! What about when you have a particularly hard year, as I did; Blue 2024?
If you happened to read my last post, I spoke about giving myself grace and time to come to a place of, “Woo hoo! It’s-a-brand-new-year-and-I’m-so-excited-and-I-just-can’t-hide-it!” in my own time, without the usual pressure that comes with the first week of January. And it worked. Little by little, I started to get more excited and re-energized as the days went on until, irony of all ironies, it felt like my very own New Years Day, filled with all the accompanying energy and hope, on….Blue Monday! That’s right, on the exact same day as ‘It’s OK to feel Sad’ Day, I felt great!
So maybe it’s a little strange to share a guided meditation called, ‘Don’t Give Up,’ [LISTEN BELOW] given that I’m all pumped up about what this year has to offer and am just getting started with 2025 intentions. (I’m on Day 5 of no news or social media and it’s been absolutely blissful!)
But like the authorities say, this is where people start to lose the motivation that was so easy to generate a few weeks ago. This is where the depth of winter feels like it will end. This is where those brownies you said you wouldn’t eat start to look really enticing. This is where you start hitting the snooze button even though you said you wouldn’t.
So maybe this meditation is exactly what you needed. It’s been a weird week. (So I hear. Though I wouldn’t know a thing about since I’m off the news.)
I needed this message a lot last year.
So whether it’s your own blue monday or purple wednesday. Whether it’s a brand new year or not. Feel sad whenever you need to. I see you. Just don’t ever ever give up on yourself or your dreams.
much love,
Carolyn 💞