Hello all!

I hope you all had a happy and restful Christmas! Hard to believe it's coming to a close as we move towards the New Year now! It can be a slightly fuzzy, in-between, liminal time between Christmas and New Years .... and so, I thought I'd share this lovely poem I came across by Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill

Winter Beachhead

This is the starkest hour of the shore

when it’s purged and cleansed as a Sabbath door.

There’s a brim of lather when the tide’s in

as the waves go on with their day’s washing.

No valved or spiralled or saucered whelk,

no mussel or scallop quiets my walk;

but I make my count, as they cease from sight,

of a head of barnacle geese, a cell of eight.

They sail in their glory; we have to bide our time

and hold out for the fullness to come—

for spring sands merry with foxes’ tails,

or kelp tresses, for clam and cowrie shells.

–from the Irish “Tráigh Gheimhridh” by Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, translated by Medbh McGuckian, in The Water Horse (2000)

So, as we " bide our time and hold out for the fullness to come—" it's a really nice thing to do these days to reflect on the joys and highlights from 2019, moments and experiences when we were really touched - it can be an event, a kindness, nature ..etc. It's also useful to acknowledge the low points and, using positive thinking, derive the learnings from them. I'd recommend doing some writing or some art around this reflection and if you're attending sessions with me, you're welcome to bring it along to the next session.

The early dark evenings also remind us that it's still a time of hibernation, of rest in order to re-charge and build energy for the year ahead.

In case anyone wants to get a start on some concrete self care, actions and thinking, I'm attaching my CBT handout that clients find very simple and helpful and also my wellness tracker.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and inspiring 2020!!

Emilie

Ps. You're receiving this e mail because you are or were a client of mine. If you wish to no longer receive e mails, please simply let me know, and I'll take you off the list.