A summary of the January posts from the MORE TO COME newsletter.
January can be a time of rest, reflection, retreat, and renewal. Nature demonstrates this wisdom through the cycle of the seasons. There are times for growth and energy, and there are times for rest and rejuvenation. Life, like nature, is full of “seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” We can use the times when our bones are bare to rebuild our energies and reset our lives.
January’s MORE TO COME offerings often spoke to this reality.
TOP READER VIEWS
These months of winter are a good time to step back. They are also a metaphor for the idea of retreat. Winter, you see, “is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible.” And the top two posts in terms of reader views built on this theme.
- In Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, author Katherine May notes “when you start tuning into winter, you realize that we live through a thousand winters in our lives — some big, some small.” The necessity of winter considers that while winter offers us liminal spaces to inhabit, we still refuse them. “The work of the cold season is to learn to welcome them.”
- Acknowledging the fullness of life highlights eight rules for the road, each followed by a link to a MORE TO COME essay providing context and examples for these personal guideposts.
MORE FROM THE BOOKSHELF
In addition to Katherine May’s Wintering, January turned up a variety of excellent books to consider during this month of reflection.
- Change begins with a question is my take on the beautifully crafted memoir by Lindy Elkins-Tanton, A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman. This book is much more than a memoir, as one of the nation’s leading planetary scientists updates the way science is presented and framed while challenging us to consider ways to ask the right questions to drive deeper analysis and change.
- Our favorite drug looks at historian Augustine Sedgewick’s Coffeeland. The book is a satisfying brew, and the post is served up with iconic songs from Parton, Cash, and Dylan.
- A recent bout of de-cluttering led me to consider whether I’m a “Keeper” or “thrower”. Janet Hulstrand and Linda Hetzer’s Moving On is “a downsizing bible” which includes some of the lessons they have learned in helping others with this task we all seem to face.
- Swift and satisfying is how I described a 1984 Martha Grimes mystery, where her favorite sleuth — Richard Jury — seeks the murderer of rich American tourists right in Shakespeare’s beloved town.
- And there is the always popular From the bookshelf: December 2023.
ACTS OF RESISTANCE
Many are frustrated by our politics and worried about the year ahead. There is reason to be concerned and we should definitely work to save our democracy. In doing so, consider hope, gratitude and joy as acts of resistance. “Joy is a fine initial act of insurrection” against tyranny.
- Laugh. Think. Cry. This is a grab bag of recent experiences that moved me to laughter, reflection, or tears.
- “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered” examines recent pieces by historians on democracy and politics as we enter an election year.
- Finally, I love the pithy proverb — Volume 9 is the latest installment in my series of short bursts of truth. Simone Weil’s “attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” is one of my favorites out of this group.
MUSICAL TREATS
- The old tunes features the Relic Ensemble, whose members are on a mission to spread their love for early music.
- Rhiannon Giddens continues to explore hidden and forgotten contributions to American musical history, as I highlight in A creative life.
CONCLUSION
Please note that in a few days I’ll be taking my own winter retreat from the newsletter to work on some other projects. If all goes as planned, the next of these monthly updates will show up on March 29th.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Your support and feedback mean more than I can ever express.
As you travel life’s highways be open to love, thirst for wonder, undertake some mindful walking every day, recognize the incredible privilege that most of us have, and think about how to put that privilege to use for good. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and others can feel especially vulnerable . . . because they are. Work hard for justice and democracy as the fight never ends.
Bash into some joy along the way.
And finally, try to be nice. Always be kind.
More to come . . .
DJB
For the December 2023 summary, click here.
You can follow MORE TO COME by going to the small “Follow” box that is on the right-hand column of the site (on the desktop version) or at the bottom right on your mobile device. It is great to hear from readers, and if you like them feel free to share these posts on your own social media platforms.
Image by Jörg Vieli from Pixabay
MORE TO COME... 
Pingback: Observations from . . . March 2024 | MORE TO COME...