Currently: January 2025
Friendship, hockey romance, and a snowstorm!
January Recap
January has never been my favorite month. It’s cold, dark, and gloomy - did I mention cold?
This year has been no exception. At the beginning of the month, we had one of the biggest snowstorms I’ve ever experienced - if not the biggest. Also, it has been freezing - like negative temperatures freezing. So, on top of experiencing my largest snowfall, I also got to experience probably the coldest day of my life as well.
Because of this weather, I have tried to be more intentional about finding the light - both metaphorically (naming things I’m grateful for) and literally (soaking up rare moments of sunshine on walks with friends).
I’ve tried to ease into January with a slower, more intentional pace, giving myself space to respect both the season and my own limitations. You can read more about my slow start to 2025 here.
I’m proud of myself for how January went this year - not because I got to the gym every day or already checked off some big goal but because I did the seemingly smaller things. I stretched and took deep breaths. I journaled and baked. I said yes to rest and fun when I previously would have said no. I walked, went to bed early, and read good books.
From the outside, it might not look like I accomplished much this month. It certainly wouldn’t win “most productive” January.
But in the ways that matter most, January felt full - of rest, reflection, and small moments that made a difference. And that was exactly what I needed.
Check out past editions of Currently here.
Reading
Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz - I mentioned this memoir in last week’s newsletter about my favorite non-fiction books, so I won’t harp on it too long. This memoir was incredible, and her storytelling was phenomenal in this book! I read it on audio and could not stop listening.
God Has a Name by John Mark Comer - I am only halfway through this book, but it has already been so impactful. The way John Mark Comer writes is so conversational and easy to understand, even when tackling hard topics.
The Appies Series (Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor, A Groom of One’s Own by Emma St. Clair) - I have really enjoyed this series so far and cannot wait to pick up the rest! They are all no spice hockey romances.
PS. I also loved the first book, but I am just including these that I read in January!
Watching
Madam Secretary - We just started a rewatch of Madam Secretary on Netflix. It is a clean, family friendly show that both Jackson and I enjoy. It combines action and politics with family and relationships. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend giving it a try!
This conversation about how friendship changes from childhood to adulthood made so much sense to me, and I had never heard it explained so simply yet clearly!
Listening
This podcast by Tyler Staton was so good, and I cannot wait to read his new book (The Familiar Stranger) that just came out this past week! His new book, and this podcast episode, are about the Holy Spirit.
We sang this song at church recently, and it is such a joy-filled song. Give it a listen!
Thinking
I want to make this section less fleshed-out-thoughts and more just straight-from-my-brain-thoughts, so here goes nothing…
I want to figure out my style and start working towards building a closet that I love. I buy things and yet still feel like I have nothing to wear that I like. My goal is comfy and cute.
I don’t know if I am made to live in cold weather. I didn’t realize there were people who prefer it to be super cold rather than super hot? I thought everyone preferred hot, and now I am wondering if we live in the right state…
Growing up, I had health anxiety (still do if I’m being honest), and I would frequently google my symptoms. If you know anything about health anxiety, you know this is the WORST thing to do. But nonetheless, do you know something that comes up as a cause for basically every symptom? Stress!!! I have been trying to be more proactive about my stress recently, so I downloaded this app called stress watch. It measures your stress by your heart rate and heart rate variability, and this past week I saw the best numbers I have ever seen! I am still thinking about and working on how I can continue to improve my numbers and decrease my stress!
Quote
“But I’m self-aware enough - read: I’ve been to enough therapy - to realize that if I ever want to have more in my life, I won’t find it living like a recluse. So I go out with my teammates. Have dinner with friends. Make a conscious effort to interact with my community.”
- From Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor
Thank you for reading!
Take care,
Caroline