How has your 2023 been treating you? I’m 99% sure my new annual tradition is having COVID during January. Let’s hope that tradition breaks next year. Here’s a recap of January 2023:
Best Book I Read This Month
One of my favorite books is The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer (which you can find here). So, when I picked up Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons to start 2023, I was happy to find it contained the same heart as John Mark Comer’s work. You can find it here.
Best Article I Read This Month
I love liberty, and I REALLY love animals. The government being the driving force behind cruel animal testing in the United States has infuriated me for years. This announcement came as extremely good news for animals and liberty lovers alike. Read it here!
Tip + Trick of the Month
Getting enough sunlight is critical to our health. (Although, I’d add the disclaimer that you should do so WITH sunscreen.) But with shorter days and freezing temperatures, getting enough sunlight can be hard.
So, embrace the window during the winter. Find places in your home where you can lurk by windows that get plenty of sunlight or find buildings that you can spend time in that have those windows. I find myself spending a lot of time working from the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center during the winter, which is essentially one big window.
Yes, braving the cold and getting outside for some fresh air is optimal. But even if you’re not doing that, chase sunlight from inside.
Quote of the Month
“The further you can distance yourself from the corporate food system, the better off you’ll be.” -Max Lugavere
I usually don’t add much commentary on quotes, but Lugavere’s work has been a big blessing in helping me improve my health and well-being while handling chronic illness. You can find more of his work here.
Kelvey’s Thought for the Month
When we start a new year, we tend to get rigid with our plans, habits, and aspirations. One glance at my lengthy goal list would reveal that this point is especially true in my life.
But life often gets in the way. Remember when I mentioned having COVID this past month, right in prime get-after-those-goals season?
We have two choices when life interferes: Abandon the plan or flex the plan instead. Instead of abandoning, which tends to be a default, how can you flex your plan?
Sick but have serious health and wellness goals? If you can’t exercise, keep your nutrition in check, drink enough water, and get plenty of sleep.
Want to do some deep work on a project once a week? Have a backup time on your calendar.
Need to hit a target, like a certain number of pages read, by the end of the week? Have a few different ways you can chunk up progress to fit the calendar of different weeks instead of having a one-size-fits-all plan.
Life throws things at us constantly. Getting adaptable in reaching our goals lets us throw them right back.
Keep those resolutions going strong as we get further into the year. I’ll catch you next month.
KELVEY OLIVIA VANDER HART 