My annual practice on New Year’s has been to set up goals for the coming 365 days. Sometimes it includes large vision boards. You know the drill: specifics about projects, weight loss, trips to take, how much income to make (if you are a consultant like I am), etc. But for 2021, making any type of specific plans in this incredible time of uncertainty seems—well—uncertain. My sense is that what I am called to do now is to create intentions instead. An intention is a general statement without any specifics about how to do it, what it would look, and where it would be. In short, my intentions are to remain open, awake, and ready for whatever might present itself as a possibility to grow (a hallmark of resilience) and learn. Here is my intention: To embrace joy and move outward as I craft an ACT III of love, laughter, contribution and prosperity. In short, to play bigger in a world of possibilities for a world of difference. What does it actually look like? I have no idea. But I am open. This is what I do know: I believe that inspiring people to unleash the energy that brings their best selves forward is my calling in life. How I do this is by offering a better way to craft work and life by design and not default. What I bring is a simple way to build resilience, inspire hope, and find joy in the process. I also believe that as this year unfolds, there are three personal characteristics that invite me to expand: courage, patience and gratitude. I invite you to think about your intentions and what personal characteristics you wish to develop. Let me know how I can support you on the journey. Oh yes, here’s also another intention for all of us. It is a name that the ancient Cochimi Indians gave to an albino whale that came to San Ignacio Lagoon in the southern Baja peninsula: Kuyima. It means “light in the darkness”. That’s a task for all of us to embrace for 2021! I am eager to hear from you!

Let’s be perfectly clear. For most of us, 2020 was a sh$%#@ show. That’s why resilience is the acknowledged buzzword for the year that has finally closed. While I despise the term “buzzword” and its implication that resilience is a fad, we can’t ignore the reality that resilience is touted in everything from news reports to television shows. So let’s get it straight: The traditional notion that resilience comes into play only when faced with adversity is inaccurate along with the common definition that resilience means to bounce back. First, resilience is a life skill that is cultivated through energy management. It’s not about gritting one’s teeth and hanging on but rather, being able to function and grow through whatever is the current situation. Frankly, research indicates that about two-thirds of people cope relatively well and for most, can endure and learn. What makes resilience a challenge is the chronic stress that appears unremitting in a Covid-19 world. It’s a world that has also managed to destroy families, livelihoods, and increased exposure to domestic abuse not to mention fractured friendships, fractured education, and fractured communities. So how does one cultivate this superpower of resilience? Can it indeed be cultivated like a garden that required, seeding, weeding, and feeding? Yes. And it is a daily activity that involves the acknowledgement of all emotions, including anger, tears and frustration. Here are the first five steps: Be realistic about where your energy is going and cut yourself some slack. Seek flexibility in your actions, taking advantage of whatever resources are at your disposal. Ask yourself what is the best thing to do in this moment? Whether it's taking a walk, breathing deeply for five minutes, or asking for help, personal honesty is essential. Are you helping yourself or harming yourself right now? Seek out and nurture your support systems. It’s amazing how Zoom calls have re-ignited relationships. It takes courage to reach out but the results are powerful. Set small goals that can give you a sense of achievement or completion. When so much of life seems out-of-control, being able to check off an activity, high-five a result, or give yourself a proverbial gold star, there’s assurance that you are moving forward. For 2021, here is what I am working on to increase my resilience. Specifically, I am determined to feed my spirit by focusing on being energized by life rather than drained by circumstances, events and others. Through my writing, speaking, coaching and facilitating, I seek to help others turn fear into fascination, curiosity into creativity, boredom into brilliance, and wisdom into worthwhile work. If you need help building your resilience muscles consider one of my books on the topic: Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience To Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters and Your Resiliency GPS: A Guide for Growing through Life.

Nothing like starting off the New Year with a new book—particularly after the pandemic that has everyone struggling with work, family, and how to create and maintain relationships in the face of mask requirements and maintaining physical distance. Imagine if you are an author with a new book about the power of smiling at strangers. Yikes! What if you are ready to send out the manuscript and the world suddenly implodes? Wearing masks and keeping a distance? How do you know if anyone is smiling? I’d call that “adversity”. For this very reason, I am delighted to introduce you to Nancy Lewis, author of Smiling at Strangers: How One Introvert Discovered the Power of Being Kind . She is proof-positive that one can take lemons and make lemonade! Enjoy! ---------- In early 2020, I was well into the process of writing, publishing, and planning a summer for book promotion and marketing. My book was written to encourage others—particularly shy introverts like me—to move beyond their fear of strangers by offering the kindness of acknowledgment through smiles and simple greetings in everyday situations and locations such as shopping venues and encounters on streets and trails. But thanks to Covid-19, the timing for publishing such a book couldn’t have been worse. I had the perfect excuse to stop. But something in me knew I was supposed to do this. After some soul searching, and with more than a little help from my friends who were determined that I would do it, I was ready to push the button. I was ready to send the manuscript to the publisher, knowing it would be released six months later and in a different season than I had planned. As if to underscore my decision, in early December Arianna Huffington declared resilience as “the word of the year”. I recognized it as the precise word that describes how I got from “no way” to “I’ll find a way”. In her article, Huffington stated, “Resilience is often spoken about . . . in terms of navigating or simply getting through challenges. But the key part of resilience isn’t about bouncing back, it’s about bouncing forward. It’s about using adversity as a catalyst to get better and become stronger.” Bouncing forward in the face of adversity. Here is what I determined would be my updated message to my readers: When the virus announced its presence on the planet as we moved into a new decade, I was making plans to launch the book in my hometown of Bellingham, Washington, in late spring, and use it to spark a local kindness movement fueled by fellow introverts. Normally, this is the time when Pacific Northwest residents come out of hibernation from the short days and wet gray of winter and begin hitting the streets, shops, parks, and wooded trails, where encounters with strangers are common. Instead, spring brought with it a global pandemic that restricted our presence in public settings except for purchasing food and other necessary supplies while maintaining six feet of distance, marked with tape on store floors. So I put a hold on the publication and book launch plans, assuming it wasn’t a time to release a book advocating face-to-face connection with strangers. Then something happened . . . As I made my forays into food stores to replenish supplies, I noticed that while some people seemed intent on getting in and out with as little interaction with others as possible, some were finding ways to connect and offer kindnesses to strangers. Like the man who noticed I’d left my cloth shopping bags in the bottom of my cart when the checker said they’d been instructed to pack all purchases in paper bags. Allowing kindness to overcome fear, the man followed me out to the parking lot and knocked on the window of my car, holding up the bags so I could lower the window enough to receive them. While walking through the park that borders my apartment complex, I was surprised at the increase in vocal greetings I got from others as we passed one another (while wearing our masks and maintaining safe social distance). I soon learned that a “hi” or “good morning” and a raised hand communicated a shared acknowledgment of our connection. Social creatures that we are, and kind at heart, many of us have found ourselves adapting and finding ways to “smile” at each other in creative and joyful ways. Whether it’s singing from our balconies or porches together, organizing drive-by birthday celebrations, meeting neighbors who have been strangers for years as we’ve been busy engaging ourselves in the outside world, or having Zoom calls with distant friends and relatives, connection is happening. Perhaps, I thought, this is the perfect time to remind people of what our hearts know. The perfect time to reinforce the message of our essential human need to acknowledge and connect with one another—strangers, friends, and family—through gestures of simple kindness like those my book suggests and illustrates. Although the world in which it was written isn’t the one into which it is being birthed, the call to join in creating a kinder and gentler world has never been more urgent. Let’s do this together. Resilience. The seed that became Smiling at Strangers was planted in 1955, when its author, Nancy Lewis, received a surprise award for Excellence in English at the Senior Awards Ceremony of her high school in New London, Connecticut. Nancy remembers telling her mother the next morning, "Someday I'm going to write a book. But first I have to get some life experience." Six decades of life experience later, at the age of 80, she began to write that book. The intervening "experience" has included marriage to a life partner, two sons, five grandchildren, college and university degrees, employment as an English teacher, librarian, and freelance editor, and residence in six states plus British Columbia. She currently lives with her husband Richard in Bellingham, Washington, where she continues to look for opportunities to offer smiles and small kindnesses to strangers. You can find her on her website Smiling At Strangers .

Coming out of a year that had more horrific events than one could imagine, it’s not easy to think of 2020 as grace-filled. And yet, as I watched the sunset New Year’s Eve, color spread in fantastic patterns across the sky. The day had been cold and windy. And yet—now we were given a display of nature’s magnificence. Day is done. Closed. Tomorrow awaits: NEW. What gives me hope and optimism for tomorrow is recalling the kindness of strangers, the re-connection with long-ago friends, and the reward of smiles and waves. Nicole Carroll, Editor-in-Chief for USA TODAY, closed her year with a series of uplifting stories captured by reporters covering everything from Sports to the Supreme Court, from Life to Science. The stories weren’t restrained by the reporter’s beats but rather because they looked wider for what captured hearts.** Consider the Chicago reporter who found a 23 year-old who had been laid off her fast-food job. But being jobless didn’t stop Jennifer Tennyson from organizing love marches and setting up sidewalk tables to give free household goods to folks in neighborhoods hit hard by COVID-19, violence and economic fallout. Then there were legions of doctors, nurses and physical therapists who came here as undocumented children and were “Dreamers”. Yet they served patients, often without protective equipment, not knowing if they’d be deported. (Thankfully, the “Dreamers” won a 5-4 decision from the Supreme Court and in December, a federal judge ordered the program fully restored.) There was the British army veteran who celebrated his 100th birthday while walking 100 laps around his garden to raise $1,250 for National Health Service staff and volunteers. The story went viral and Captain Sir Thomas Moore went on to raise $44 million. As he told the BBC, it’s for “the brave and super doctors and nurses we have got. They deserve every penny.” And not to be outdone, Editor Carroll wrote of becoming a little teary when she heard Dr. Anthony Fauci tell a reporter that Santa was immune from the virus. “Santa is exempt because of all the good qualities has a lot of good innate immunity.” Phew. Little kids didn’t have to be worried when the nation’s leading expert on COVID-19 took time to reassure them. Here’s the point. Live just one day at a time. Ask what is ONE thing you might do to brighten another’s day, to find a kernel of optimism for yourself, to go to sleep with a smile. We can begin: TODAY. **Google USA TODAY Dec 31 and the headline: A panda cub, a beer, other moments of hope

If you were a child of the 60s and watched television, you might be having a flashback to a very similar title. That Was the Week That Was, informally TWTWTW or TW3, was a satirical television comedy program on BBC Television in 1962 and 1963. David Frost served as the headliner. Although it only lasted two seasons, it set a new standard in both comedy and a satire, poking fun at politicians, celebrities and events of the week. Today, Saturday Night Live, is an apt comparison. For us non-acting mortals, finding comic relief in the close of 2020 seems like a feat that even Houdini couldn’t unravel. I don’t have to outline to you, dear readers, all the many ways this has been the most horrendous year across the globe on so many fronts. And yet, there have been sparks of laughter, compassionate acts, newly-discovered friends, and grace-filled gratitude. That’s the way I’d like to close out 2020—a year that started with the mantra of perfect vision and ended up blindsiding us with its intensity. I’ve laughed at friends who said the pandemic had become a POUNDemic. I chuckled when told that after lockdown, I’d either be a monk, a hunk, chunk or a drunk. (Yes, I did choose carefully). Masks have become creative fashion symbols (at least for those smart enough to wear them), and office attire includes pajama bottoms and bunny slippers. From my daily runs—even at a distance—I’ve encountered the same people and we’ve learned each other’s names. An elderly man named Seth always sits in his car at the hilltop and waits for me to run by, wave and inquire about his health. I found out he has lung cancer. I try and remember names with small mental clues: muscled Bret is buff and I call Valerie victorious because she doggedly struggles to move. Ted is tiny and Tara reminds me of the Deep South and Gone with the Wind. Up until this year, I never bothered to read the nametags of postal clerks or grocery checkers. I’m making up for lost time. Random acts of kindness appear every week and I attempt to do the same: from cakes delivered on the doorsteps to trashcans taken out to the curb. Little known colleagues have kindly conducted Zoom lessons with me as I attempt to discover the intricacies of virtual presentations. From the many interviews I’ve been privileged to give based on my newest book, I’ve made lovely new friends in the leadership universe. In fact, from my interview with Thiago DeSouza on Business Access Podcast, I discovered he was also a marvelous video producer. My newest video is the result of a gift from Thiago. As we close out the year that was, perhaps you too can find the small treasures in the midst of the darkness, anxiety, and turmoil. Let’s move into 2021 on that footing. See you in the New Year.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the house Not a creature was stirring, not even The Mouse The track pad was silent, the touchpad so still Computer screen empty with nothing to fill. The children were nestled all snug in their beds While vision of Kindles danced in their heads; While I in my jammies and spouse in his shorts Had just settled down to watch evening sports. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter Away to the window I flew like a flash Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash. The L.E.D. lights from the pole on the street Shown bright on the grass –the fake is so neat! When what to my wondering eyes I am shown A tiny red object that looked like a drone. A small little driver-dressed down in jean clothes Oh dear, can it be? It’s that crazy Bezos! More rapid than nanos, his small drones they came And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name: Now Facebook, now Google, now I-Phone and Upgrade On Bitmap, on Twitter, on Inkjet and JPEG To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all. The story continues- technology beckons The point of this tale—it’s now time to reckon Consider a shut down from email and text Be present this season. Forget all the rest. Just look in the eyes of the people so dear- No digital greetings to ones who are near. I’ll see you next year as I vanish from sight Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! *With apologies to the two authors. Originally credited to Clement Clarke Moore (1822) and anonymously published on Dec 23, 1823 in the New York Sentinel. But according to University of Toronto English Library, in 2000 Don Foster concluded that it was probably written by Major Henry Livingston, Jr.

In May 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) finally listed burnout as a global occupational hazard . Those of us in the leadership and human resource field wondered what took them so long. After all, 30 years ago, Dr. Herbert Freudenberger clearly defined burnout as "exhausting one's physical and mental resources by excessively striving to reach some unrealistic expectation imposed by one's self or by society." It hasn't changed since then, and the flames have only gotten bigger. Today, we now see a correlation between organizational culture, leadership styles, work expectations, and the growing reports of burnout across all sectors of the economy. One more piece has also been added: the pandemic lockdown has created remote workforces, economic uncertainty, and rising awareness of social inequity and injustice. It's a new world that will require individual awareness and effort, along with leaders willing to abandon outmoded behaviors, systems, and processes. And for all of us, it's going to require clarity of focus, courage, and compassion. Fight Burnout With A Collaborative Vision 1) Collaborate to craft a shared, compelling vision of what the organization can move toward in the next few years. This is not just sitting in a room and dreaming. Rather it involves ALL stakeholders and honestly looks at the current reality with all its uncertainty. Without a vision, an organization treads water. Jesse Lyn Stoner and Ken Blanchard have written an easy-to-follow book, Full Steam Ahead , that everyone can read without requiring hours of time and a dictionary! It also lays out a clear process that is equally suited for virtual conversations. Now, as COVID sends team members into remote worksites and uncertainty abounds, creating even a short-term collaborative vision is powerful and positive. When one can't see the way out of a forest, identifying a path through the "woods" is an act of hope. Say Yes to New Ideas Instead of "No," or "But…" 2) Seek and reward courage in employees who take the initiative to try something "new" in this strange, disruptive environment. No one person holds all the answers in these complex times. Encourage employees to speak up about ways to save money, satisfy a customer base, or have a micro-innovation. For some leaders, the impulse will be to jump in and say "no" or why something won't work. Danger! If you are concerned, ask for a small trial balloon first. Bill Treasurer, in his book Courage Goes To Work , tackles fear in an organization by offering three types of courage: Try Courage , which means to take the initiative; Trust Courage , following the lead of others; and Tell Courage, being honest and assertive with coworkers and bosses. Following these principles will help you have the courage to say "yes," to ideas! Less Burnout Occurs When Leaders Communicate Respectfully 3) Develop a communication skill that builds trust and preserves dignity. Nothing will burn out employees and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation more than a leadership style that demeans, degrades, and discounts employees. Sadly, we see this type of communication at the highest levels of our nation: name-calling, bullying, degrading, and creating such an unpleasant environment that people leave. The opposite of this abrasive, arrogant style is what Maya Hu-Chan calls Saving Face . "Face" is a concept that transcends far beyond its origins in China. It is consciously speaking (and listening) in a way that honors or respects the individual—even if we disagree. It means showing compassion and caring while also being civil and intentional so as to create a place of psychological safety. The leader practices "straight talk," saying what needs to be said at the right time and place. The opposite is blunt talk, which runs rough-shod over the individual or team. Even as I write this, you can feel the tension, anger, and burnout begin to rise! See Your Employees In Their Full Humanity 4) Coach the Person, Not the Problem Yes, that is the title of a very helpful book that should be on everyone's desk or nightstand. Employees can experience burnout when they face issues they don't know how to solve: from unrealistic expectations established by the organization to home challenges with blending work and a family, to conflicts with other employees and more. With so many workers now working from home, more challenges abound. Not everyone will have a good workspace or a good option for homeschooling children. The regular "break" that occurs during a commute is gone. Coaching the person, not the problem, is more important than ever. Dr. Marcia Reynolds offers a guide to reflective inquiry: a way of mirroring back to someone what is heard and said. With reflective inquiry, the individual can resolve the dilemma independently, instead of being ordered into a specific solution. Of course, this does not preclude the potential need for true consultative help. However, in this new world, if a leader can practice empathetic listening and reflection, an employee is more apt to feel empowered. To feel "heard and understood" is a valuable gift. The burnout of helplessness moves to hopeful. Know Your Triggers and Build Systems to Help Each Other 5) Build resilience skills to refuel, recharge, and reclaim what matters. Leaders can grant their team opportunities to learn and work together collectively on issues related to burnout. In Burnout to Breakthrough , readers are guided through a process that looks at personal and organizational triggers that might lead to burnout. In self-selected, small groups, employees can share personal insights and offer observations and ideas to help each other. Note that psychological safety, trust, and empathy must be present for this type of shared learning to work. If these conditions are present, the team's cohesion can grow, and enthusiasm for the work and each other can multiply. One final thought: I'll never forget a client who shook her head sadly and said, "I feel burned out because my work is not regarded as 'worthy.'" All of us, from the CEO to the security guard, want and need to feel that what we do matters. When a leader takes the time to acknowledge individuals, note the value of contributions, and express gratitude, we move from burned out to fired up. This article is courtesy of Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Published first on August 5, 2020 on their blog.

Plenty of issues abound: from how to keep a business open to how to stay safe; from how to engage employees to how to win customers back; from how to restore faith in a nation to how to teach remote; from how to … you can fill in the blanks. Yep—plenty of issues. But here’s the deal. Issue spotters are plentiful. You can recognize them because they point out what's wrong, complain about what others are doing, and then walk away. If you ask for ideas, they shrug and say, “Not my job.” Wrong. We all must become problem solvers. Every one of us owns some small part in fixing our sphere of influence, our corner of the universe. Yes, I am not going to solve the climate crisis BUT I can ask myself “what part of the problem can I solve? What part can I influence?” There is ALWAYS something I can do. In the area of climate change, I chose a hybrid car. I walk where I can. I recycle as much as possible. I elect people who believe in science. You get the idea. What is one problem you have spotted? How many ways can you do something to begin to “solve” that problem? Break it down to its smallest part. Somewhere, if it is REALLY a problem, there is always something you can do. Small steps always matter! For example, right now in the U.S., we have a significant problem with being incredibly divided and angry. In how many ways can I reach out to my neighbors and teammates? How might I check in with someone who feels alone or alienated? I don’t have to agree but listening goes a long way toward breaking down walls. Remember, a hallmark of resiliency is adaptability-- finding multiple ways to respond to a situation. I might not like all my potential solutions, but I can find something. Remember, Henry Ford was right when he said, “Don't find fault. Find a remedy.”

Here’s a novel approach to start the Thanksgiving holiday: try the Love Glasses Revolution ® As Tara Ijai, founder of this product and a movement toward kindness insists, “wearing Love Glasses block the harmful “U-ME” rays.” Tara is the perfect model of resilience and the ability to reframe hate speech into another option: Love. Consider her story: When she converted to Islam and began wearing the hijab, she became subject to taunts, jeers and threats. The final blow came while sitting with her non-Islam family in a restaurant and hearing a broadcaster talk about rounding up Muslims and putting them into a detention camp. Heartsick and upset, she sobbed for hours until her brother showed her this meme at https://me.me/embed/i/13178554 . Tara recalls an almost immediate flash of inspiration to do something completely opposite of the hate rhetoric and actions. Thus, was born The Love Glasses Revolution! While the glasses are fun and stylish, her real intent is to get the wearers to do three things: Actively work to seek similarities and find a common ground with every person - discovering that we are more alike than different. Take time to to be kind to yourself. Know that you are making the world a better place by the small choices you make along the way. Check out her website www.loveglassesrevolution.com and discover not only stylish glasses, but a focus to bring our communities and nation back to love… one person at a time. I love my glasses—no pun intended. When I wear them, I am conscious of taking time to smile at strangers, to perform random acts of kindness—like delivering cookies to the post office, to being gentler with myself when I become frustrated with work. I am grateful to Tara for offering all of us a strong reminder that LOVE matters. Let me know if you become a Love Rebel in this revolution!

It's no secret that insomnia is rampant in our 24/7/365 "I want it now" world. However, lack of sleep is bad for your health and productivity. If you face insomnia more than occasionally see your doctor. Sometimes the cause is just plain stress and other times it may be an underlying health problem. Try some of these relaxation techniques in addition to following your doctor's orders: 1. Turn off technology at least one hour before bed. The light from the television, computer and your cell phone confuses your brain into thinking it is daytime. 2. Try several different relaxation techniques to find what works for you. Yoga, meditation, prayer, hypnosis and relaxation CDs are all tools that may help you fall asleep faster and wake less often. 3. Consider using a white noise machine or a fan to drown out unwanted noise during the night. Repetitive, soothing white noise can also calm the brain and help you relax. 4. Take a warm (not hot) bath before bed. Use lavender scented bubble bath. 5. Fix yourself a cup of hot chamomile tea. Chamomile has been used for stress relief for centuries. 6. Journal away your problems. Release what is bothering you that day by writing it down in a notebook just before bedtime. 7. Use a heat pack wrapped around your neck or part of your back. 8. Listen to a CD of children's lullabies. 9. Practice deep breathing throughout the day to relieve stress and just before bed to relax. 10. Count backwards. Try the technique used by the anesthesiologists at hospitals. Start out at 100 and count backwards until you fall asleep. If you wake in the night repeat the exercise!

The cantor swayed in the candlelight, her clear voice filling the church with Latin hymns and spirituals. What caught my eye was the cantor's tiny daughter. A miniature of her Mother, this tiny blond child jumped up and ran to a plate glass picture window framed with candles against the dark night. The three year-old could only see her reflection: black velvet dress, bow in her hair, white leggings and patent leather party shoes. As her Mother sang, she started to dance. She twirled, bowed, tumbled and swayed--and mostly in time with the music. Never losing sight of her image, she preened, twirled more and then suddenly stopped. Clasping tiny hands against her heart, she looked intently at her window and smiled as if to say, "Oh, I am so pretty. And I dance so well." I grinned. And then it hit me: what happens to us that we so quickly lose this image of ourselves as marvelous, gorgeous and talented? How is it we become so self-conscious that we rarely jump up, do that which which comes so naturally, and then - without pride - simply say, "Oh, good work." I think leadership creates a space for people to return to their inborn talent - whatever that is. And good self-leadership pushes us to jump up to do that which gives us joy. I wonder what it might take for us to wash away fear, doubt and anxiety so that we'd rise to "dance"? What do you think?

Autumn is my most favorite time of year. It’s a dramatic shift from the thick green of summer and cloying heat, mosquitoes and puddles of sweat into cool, crisp days, brilliant leaves and harvest. Perhaps that is why in the Jewish tradition, their New Year (Rosh Hashanah) almost always falls in September or October. It makes perfect sense to me, regardless of your religious background, that the season of Autumn is a better time for the one thing we do on December 31: make resolutions. First, think about it: by the time a year closes, chances are we are exhausted by all that has transpired. The holidays have pushed us to scramble for everything from gifting, cooking, cleaning, closing out budgets and more. It makes more sense to me that Autumn is a better time to be reflective, quiet, and take stock of what ARE we harvesting? What seeds were planted earlier and what is now ready to be put on the proverbial table of life? Where do we need to begin to draw inward and begin to hunker down to gather strength for what we might grow in Spring? What intentions (versus resolutions) can be made now while we are not so worn out? Something to think about.