30 days.

It is exactly 30 days until Daylight Savings Time. It’s also 41 days until spring and officially less than six weeks to go. This year? It feels like I’m going to barely make it. The day-to-day isn’t so bad but the constant snow cover, cold temperatures and lack of sunshine are draining. There are so many reasons to live here in spring, summer and fall. But in winter? More and more, I think this place is not fit for man nor beast. Unfortunately for me, we rescue cats instead of dogs. Cats don’t travel well. We are stuck here all winter.

Fortunately for me, however, we have a trip coming up in March for a week in the sunshine. That alone is enough of a break to keep me going. Otherwise? Well, my crazy thoughts start coming. Ideas like snow-blowing the entire two-acre yard we mow seem reasonable. I would just like to see grass and sunshine and while I can’t control sunshine, I could control seeing grass.

The past two days have been somewhat of a drag… for a couple of reasons. First, we spent about three hours yesterday clearing about two inches of icy snow and slush. That is never fun. Then, I’m waiting for a response on a potentially really good business opportunity. I never enjoy being in a state of limbo and while there are a few good signs, there are enough hurdles to clear yet that no one is celebrating. And finally? I just haven’t seen the sun lately. We have a very filtered sun right now and it’s already picking me up a bit. Sun is key to everything.

Still, it’s time to move forward. We escape winter by welcoming spring; we escape the anxiety and darkness of business stress by engaging in new opportunities. And most of all? Well, we make sure that we bring whatever good we can to the table each day. Whatever happiness, joy, good will, laughter, strength and resilience we have, we bring to the table and share. For instance, I absolutely hate winter and yet, I’m here in my nice warm (and finished) home that my hubby and I have built together. We have five rescues who will never again know the cold of no warm place to sleep on a blustery winter day and our fridge and (maybe more importantly) liquor cabinet are stocked. Bringing joy to today is not the same idea as bringing elation. Elation would involve inking the deal while the sun shines and the snow melts in a beautiful 50-60 degree day. Joy involves navigating a little anxiety and the winter blues while also appreciating the warmth, safety and love in this house.

Today, I need to embrace quiet joy and for as much as I can, I need to sustain that joy over the next 30 days at least. Spring is truly coming and we will have longer, brighter and sunnier days ahead. Every day, we march incrementally forward – even on the days when progress seems to have been entirely backward. Soon enough, we will be there. In between here and there, I refuse to stop finding joy in my life. We only get so many years, weeks, days, hours and minutes on this earth. Treating each moment and enjoying how special it is – even when it is entirely mundane or downright awful – takes a special fortitude that I genuinely don’t have. But this is one time that I can fake it. I may never exactly make it, but I can fake it. So, here I go…

How many days was that again? 30? Okay.