This was a lovely piece to read first thing on a Sunday morning. Your photos are stunning and I love that the magic of the skies appeared so unexpectedly before you when letting the dogs out. Welcome back ☺️
Thanks, Hannah, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It feels really good to be back. Closing my fingers that we might see some more of the Northern Lights this month, they definitely are magical. Hope you have a lovely year ahead!
Oh what a wonderful read to start my day, thank you. I absolutely love that you took December off, though I'm sorry you were exhausted. I appreciate so much people who share so generously about doing things like that. I managed a quieter festive season than normal, not least because my body was done too. I loved it, and your post has inspired me to note that down and maybe increase it more this year. Stunning photos, making Shetland even higher on my visits wish list than it already was 🙏❤️xxx
Thanks, Clare! It's so funny with taking a break, isn't it? It always feels so risky and unprofessional or something but that's really just the machine of capitalism in our heads, I think. And maybe a bit of perfectionism to always keep going... 😅 But we're not machines and that's, clearly, part of the beauty of it all. So glad you got some time to relax over the festive too - I know exactly what you mean about your body demanding it! If you make it to Shetland then let me know, I'd love to meet some Substack writers here. My partner is a chef - you can find him @shetlandchef on Instagram/Tube - and he shares more about life in Shetland, if you're interested. Have a lovely weekend! 💖
Oh it so is, both those hey! Sneaky little buggers that they are 🤣. It takes practice to go against them, but imagine what the world might look like if we did ❤️. Thanks do much for the recommendation of your partners sites, I'll check those out. And will definitely let you know if I ever make it there. Take care and thanks for your lovely reply 🙏c
I wish that more people took time off and actually admit it. Stepping back and resting is such an important part of the creative process and life. I am tired of listening to the importance of hustle, push and being busy. It makes me exhausted just typing it. I’m glad you had a quieter season and I hope you are more rest. ❤️
I'm completely with you. I try to keep in mind that if hustle culture was good for us, the world wouldn't be in such a mess! Thank you - here's to more rest hey, it's where the revolution will be in so many ways!! xx
What a lovely post, Charlene … welcome back. It’s funny how things just keep going … it’s the idea behind ‘be the pebble in the pond’ on our manifesto. The art of starting things and trusting that they’ll keep going, ripples spreading from the original stone we skimmed over the loch. We had a glimmer of northern lights in our corner of France … JoJo captured some glimmers. I’ve had a break too, from the Encouragement Sessions more than the words, though one followed the other. I’m back onto a handful of sessions next week and feeling recharged and ready to boost some folk. None of us can pour from an empty cup. Bonne année, as they say around here.
Bonne Année, Barrie! That's so lovely that you saw the norther lights in France too - they're just incredible even when it's just that faint glow, aren't they? Glad to hear you took some time out as well, it seems to still be one of the hardest things for us creative people to do but it's so necessary to keep that spark going and to be able to still enjoy it (which is such an important part of it all, right?!). Love that image of the ripples in the pond too - so lovely. ☺️
Nice that you’re back. Always super happy to know that gentle words do their work. Are you back with new energy and fresh ideas … or just letting the year unfold?
Happy New Year Charlene - I actually can’t imagine a more beautiful and inspiring way than watching the Merry Dancers undulate across the horizon! Wow!! Thank you for sharing!
Stepping back for a while to allow space and time for other bubbling projects is something I have been thinking of for a while and yet here I am, still, with a constant worry that I’m not giving enough… even when I know I do! At least I think I do… and there lies the conundrum!!
I have a feeling we make our own problems, and there is only one cure for that right!
Lots of love - it’s gorgeous to see you back again! ♥️xx
I think it’s so common for women to have the feeling of “enough”. The pressure that we put on ourselves is exhausting. We all could use a mental health day more often.
I would love to see the lights. . .someday. My holidays were fairly quiet. I wasn't feeling it really, but went through the motions.. .It was, regrettably, a gift card Christmas. On top of several major stressors of 2024, the trauma of Hurricane Helene lingers with tarped roofs and piles of downed trees EVERYWHERE. Chainsaw echos filled the air for a full 3 weeks. Augusta, GA area has lost 50% of our canopy! Then I did slowly and softly enter 2025, trying to focus on fascination instead of fear.
Some years it’s just like that, isn’t it, Gayla? More about showing up in whatever small way you can rather than doing some huge celebrations you don’t feel up for. I hope things settle in your area soon - an intense time. Fingers crossed for a more peaceful 2025!
The stress and trauma of Helene definitely played a part in my holiday season too. I felt guilty driving to the coffee shop with my kiddo as the piles of debris and tree damage are everywhere. The destruction and amount of loss continues to affect us all living in the mountains of Tennessee and N. Carolina. Sending much love ❤️ as you slowly recover. My back hill is covered with hundreds of trees that fell. Simply staggering.
I love love that you took time to yourself to recharge.
That you for sharing your experience with exhaustion, and all the Aurora. Both these things made my Sunday morning.
I come from north of the 53rd parallel and my childhood, teenagehood…young adulthood was filled with the northern lights. They are friends I miss.
I used to work until midnight as a teenager, and then drive home where it was so dark, because my dad had broken our sensor light with a rock when we moved in…and I would lie on the top on my car and watching them dancing.
Ours were purple, green and white. Majestic. Filling the horizon.
But I remember being 11 on a trip to the Yukon…and the entire sky was a dome of spiralling lights. I was in awe, and would go in to bed.
Fast forward to a few months ago. It had been ages since I’d seen them.
I didn’t know they were visiting the east coast. I went for a walk with my pup and walked by my neighbour and he pointed at the sky and it was pink. I stared, thinking it might be the sunset somehow.
It wasn’t. I ran to get my partner, my children.
But the most magical thing was the two boy next door who came outside to see what we were exclaiming about. They were originally from a much more southern place. And when they saw them their excitement was…absolutely magic.
I feel grateful for the magic of nature, and awe, and beauty and its ability to bring us together.
Thank you so much for sharing these stories, Wake! What beautiful memories. I love that we see them from so many different places but experience the same magic. Hope you have a lovely year ahead! ✨
Hi Wake! What a magical opportunity to see them. Living in New Hampshire years ago, I spotted them in the sky. I am embarrassed to admit I didn’t know what they were at the time. I crave to see them again. I might need an excuse to travel. 🧳❤️
Ohhhh, i love looking at the Northern Lights because by looking at them, one can feel the immenseness of the universe. My festive season is between end of March-April. I've been feeling more optimistic about future because i've been learning German since this past November and love it so much (Ich mag Deutsch lernen/I love learning German). Can't wait to read the next book in your book club.
That’s great! Learning something new is such a good way to expand your world, especially leaning a language. Hoping to learn more Hindi this year - need to be more consistent with practising. :)
When you went quiet in the book club I immediately thought, "I hope that whether or not everything is okay she is taking exactly the time she needs for herself." I'm glad that you were.
We expect so much of ourselves and it's good to remember that:
1) it's okay if we don't get it all done in the specific time frame we thought
2) other people probably aren't expecting nearly as much from us.
3) even if they are, we don't have to be on that timeline for most things
4) the things we spark that go out into the world will take on a life of their own if they are meant to.
I wrote at the start of the year how I'm taking a gentle January. Then behind the scenes I tried to dive in frantically anyway. And now life has happened and I have remembered gentleness.
Think it’s something we all struggle with, isn’t it? Trying to find that balance between productive / relaxed / overwhelm! Hope you have a lovely year ahead and glad you enjoyed the book. :)
My holiday season and January are always slow these days. I do feel the push to “get going” sooner than I want. This year, I am stepping my toe out of hibernation mode but still staying hidden in the covers.
Welcome back, Charlene. I've missed your voice and storytelling, but I understand your need to recharge. I did sort of by minimal holiday decor and activities. Substack replaced all other reading. And a case of the local bug slammed me down long enough to lay around in a restful semi-coma. It worked.
Thanks so much, happy to be back. 🥰 It really was a brilliant way to begin a year - hoping we might get to see them again this month too. So lovely. Sending you the same wishes, Liz - hope it’s a wonderful one for you too!
Half a world away we also had them that night over Southeast Alaska. Best I've ever seen. It was the most literal breathtaking I've experienced that didn't involve humpback whales 😉
That’s amazing! It must be even more breath-taking in Alaska. It really is incredible. I’ve never seen a humpback whale but we get a lot of orca pods and dolphins around Shetland and they’re so beautiful to watch. Nature is always the best show in town. 😍
Sometimes it's hard (ok all the time for me) to remind yourself to take care of your mind and body. I've burned out on my fiction writing two years in a row after making attempts to go back to it. I think our bodies know when we're fried, and they have a pesky way of forcing us to rest even when it's not the thing that comes to mind. Nice post. Here's to having more focused time on ourselves in the new year!
It' really is hard all the time to take a rest, isn’t it - I guess that’s what we get for living in a capitalist nightmare that makes us feel we’ve got to be robots when it comes to work. 😭 The body is definitely worth listening to, that’s so true. I think I’m used to listening to my body when I’m ill but not when I feel well. Thanks so much for reading, Jen, hope it’s a year that gives you exactly what you need. 💖
Thanks Charlene, I think this year is going to be awesome for me personally! Sure, there are plenty of road blocks, but I feel so much calmer now than I did ten years ago.
I was raised to be productive, without rest. I spent time with my family over the weekend and noticed their inability to rest. Even at 83, my mom is wiping countertops (that aren’t dirty) and moving things around. She doesn’t stop until the end of the day. I don’t want to wait that long. I am snuggled on a couch pet sitting 2 cute pooches. I am resting as I reach out to connect after a long break from Substack. Feet up and everything. ❤️😂
My MIL wipes the counters down with Windex every day! She gets so mad about it, but whatever. My family life is very challenging with two special needs kids; sometimes my attention is simply needed elsewhere. I've also taken to having a 20 minute nap every day if I can swing it. :-)
What a wonderful way to support yourself, especially when life is challenging. Early on in motherhood, I realized that my house would suffer so I could be more present with my kids. They needed to run and be wild outside. My mom would have died to see my house most days.
Yes, it's great. The more i learn German, the more i feel more itch to explore it (I've also found a very good channel in YouTube named "Easy German". All of their hosts are great). Consistent practice truly makes perfect.
The "mirrie dancers" is perfect - to describe the movement of the lights and the joy they bring. And I'm glad you saw them on New Year's Day, it seems like a good omen for sure. And pleased you took time out for yourself. Wishing you a fab 2025 Charlene!
This was a lovely piece to read first thing on a Sunday morning. Your photos are stunning and I love that the magic of the skies appeared so unexpectedly before you when letting the dogs out. Welcome back ☺️
Thanks, Hannah, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It feels really good to be back. Closing my fingers that we might see some more of the Northern Lights this month, they definitely are magical. Hope you have a lovely year ahead!
Oh what a wonderful read to start my day, thank you. I absolutely love that you took December off, though I'm sorry you were exhausted. I appreciate so much people who share so generously about doing things like that. I managed a quieter festive season than normal, not least because my body was done too. I loved it, and your post has inspired me to note that down and maybe increase it more this year. Stunning photos, making Shetland even higher on my visits wish list than it already was 🙏❤️xxx
Thanks, Clare! It's so funny with taking a break, isn't it? It always feels so risky and unprofessional or something but that's really just the machine of capitalism in our heads, I think. And maybe a bit of perfectionism to always keep going... 😅 But we're not machines and that's, clearly, part of the beauty of it all. So glad you got some time to relax over the festive too - I know exactly what you mean about your body demanding it! If you make it to Shetland then let me know, I'd love to meet some Substack writers here. My partner is a chef - you can find him @shetlandchef on Instagram/Tube - and he shares more about life in Shetland, if you're interested. Have a lovely weekend! 💖
Oh it so is, both those hey! Sneaky little buggers that they are 🤣. It takes practice to go against them, but imagine what the world might look like if we did ❤️. Thanks do much for the recommendation of your partners sites, I'll check those out. And will definitely let you know if I ever make it there. Take care and thanks for your lovely reply 🙏c
Definitely sneaky little buggers. 🤣 My pleasure! Have a lovely rest-of-your-week, Clare.
I wish that more people took time off and actually admit it. Stepping back and resting is such an important part of the creative process and life. I am tired of listening to the importance of hustle, push and being busy. It makes me exhausted just typing it. I’m glad you had a quieter season and I hope you are more rest. ❤️
I'm completely with you. I try to keep in mind that if hustle culture was good for us, the world wouldn't be in such a mess! Thank you - here's to more rest hey, it's where the revolution will be in so many ways!! xx
What a lovely post, Charlene … welcome back. It’s funny how things just keep going … it’s the idea behind ‘be the pebble in the pond’ on our manifesto. The art of starting things and trusting that they’ll keep going, ripples spreading from the original stone we skimmed over the loch. We had a glimmer of northern lights in our corner of France … JoJo captured some glimmers. I’ve had a break too, from the Encouragement Sessions more than the words, though one followed the other. I’m back onto a handful of sessions next week and feeling recharged and ready to boost some folk. None of us can pour from an empty cup. Bonne année, as they say around here.
Bonne Année, Barrie! That's so lovely that you saw the norther lights in France too - they're just incredible even when it's just that faint glow, aren't they? Glad to hear you took some time out as well, it seems to still be one of the hardest things for us creative people to do but it's so necessary to keep that spark going and to be able to still enjoy it (which is such an important part of it all, right?!). Love that image of the ripples in the pond too - so lovely. ☺️
Thank you for sharing the beautiful image of ripples. It calmed down my anxious mind about staying off Substack for almost a month.
Nice that you’re back. Always super happy to know that gentle words do their work. Are you back with new energy and fresh ideas … or just letting the year unfold?
Happy New Year Charlene - I actually can’t imagine a more beautiful and inspiring way than watching the Merry Dancers undulate across the horizon! Wow!! Thank you for sharing!
Stepping back for a while to allow space and time for other bubbling projects is something I have been thinking of for a while and yet here I am, still, with a constant worry that I’m not giving enough… even when I know I do! At least I think I do… and there lies the conundrum!!
I have a feeling we make our own problems, and there is only one cure for that right!
Lots of love - it’s gorgeous to see you back again! ♥️xx
I think it’s so common for women to have the feeling of “enough”. The pressure that we put on ourselves is exhausting. We all could use a mental health day more often.
We could Blythe, if only to knock a little sense Ito us!
I would love to see the lights. . .someday. My holidays were fairly quiet. I wasn't feeling it really, but went through the motions.. .It was, regrettably, a gift card Christmas. On top of several major stressors of 2024, the trauma of Hurricane Helene lingers with tarped roofs and piles of downed trees EVERYWHERE. Chainsaw echos filled the air for a full 3 weeks. Augusta, GA area has lost 50% of our canopy! Then I did slowly and softly enter 2025, trying to focus on fascination instead of fear.
Some years it’s just like that, isn’t it, Gayla? More about showing up in whatever small way you can rather than doing some huge celebrations you don’t feel up for. I hope things settle in your area soon - an intense time. Fingers crossed for a more peaceful 2025!
Thanks so much. Soon aftrr posting that I thought, 'Wow, that was over sharing!'
Not at all! Sometimes these things just need a place to be written. I find Substack is often that place!
The stress and trauma of Helene definitely played a part in my holiday season too. I felt guilty driving to the coffee shop with my kiddo as the piles of debris and tree damage are everywhere. The destruction and amount of loss continues to affect us all living in the mountains of Tennessee and N. Carolina. Sending much love ❤️ as you slowly recover. My back hill is covered with hundreds of trees that fell. Simply staggering.
I love love that you took time to yourself to recharge.
That you for sharing your experience with exhaustion, and all the Aurora. Both these things made my Sunday morning.
I come from north of the 53rd parallel and my childhood, teenagehood…young adulthood was filled with the northern lights. They are friends I miss.
I used to work until midnight as a teenager, and then drive home where it was so dark, because my dad had broken our sensor light with a rock when we moved in…and I would lie on the top on my car and watching them dancing.
Ours were purple, green and white. Majestic. Filling the horizon.
But I remember being 11 on a trip to the Yukon…and the entire sky was a dome of spiralling lights. I was in awe, and would go in to bed.
Fast forward to a few months ago. It had been ages since I’d seen them.
I didn’t know they were visiting the east coast. I went for a walk with my pup and walked by my neighbour and he pointed at the sky and it was pink. I stared, thinking it might be the sunset somehow.
It wasn’t. I ran to get my partner, my children.
But the most magical thing was the two boy next door who came outside to see what we were exclaiming about. They were originally from a much more southern place. And when they saw them their excitement was…absolutely magic.
I feel grateful for the magic of nature, and awe, and beauty and its ability to bring us together.
Thank you for reminding me of that. 💖
Thank you so much for sharing these stories, Wake! What beautiful memories. I love that we see them from so many different places but experience the same magic. Hope you have a lovely year ahead! ✨
Hi Wake! What a magical opportunity to see them. Living in New Hampshire years ago, I spotted them in the sky. I am embarrassed to admit I didn’t know what they were at the time. I crave to see them again. I might need an excuse to travel. 🧳❤️
I wish I could offer you a chance to see them 💖 Where my parents live up north (it’s very very cold where I’m originally from) they often occur.
Meanwhile, I can offer you quiet and a dark night’s sky, should you and your family need some calm this year. 💖💖💖
Thank you! Calm sounds wonderful. You too. ❤️
Glad you’re back!
Glad to be here, Diane! Looking forward to getting back into things this year at a (hopefully!) manageable, sustainable pace. 🥰
Go, slowly, Charlene. There are more trollers now even here. Stay safe & healthy!
Urgh, I know. More AI bots too. 👀 My block button is strong! Hope you have a gentle, healthy year too, Diane. 🥰
Ohhhh, i love looking at the Northern Lights because by looking at them, one can feel the immenseness of the universe. My festive season is between end of March-April. I've been feeling more optimistic about future because i've been learning German since this past November and love it so much (Ich mag Deutsch lernen/I love learning German). Can't wait to read the next book in your book club.
That’s great! Learning something new is such a good way to expand your world, especially leaning a language. Hoping to learn more Hindi this year - need to be more consistent with practising. :)
When you went quiet in the book club I immediately thought, "I hope that whether or not everything is okay she is taking exactly the time she needs for herself." I'm glad that you were.
We expect so much of ourselves and it's good to remember that:
1) it's okay if we don't get it all done in the specific time frame we thought
2) other people probably aren't expecting nearly as much from us.
3) even if they are, we don't have to be on that timeline for most things
4) the things we spark that go out into the world will take on a life of their own if they are meant to.
I wrote at the start of the year how I'm taking a gentle January. Then behind the scenes I tried to dive in frantically anyway. And now life has happened and I have remembered gentleness.
https://createmefree.substack.com/p/a-gentle-january-for-create-me-free
PS - I'm glad you inspired me to read this book.
Think it’s something we all struggle with, isn’t it? Trying to find that balance between productive / relaxed / overwhelm! Hope you have a lovely year ahead and glad you enjoyed the book. :)
My holiday season and January are always slow these days. I do feel the push to “get going” sooner than I want. This year, I am stepping my toe out of hibernation mode but still staying hidden in the covers.
Welcome back, Charlene. I've missed your voice and storytelling, but I understand your need to recharge. I did sort of by minimal holiday decor and activities. Substack replaced all other reading. And a case of the local bug slammed me down long enough to lay around in a restful semi-coma. It worked.
Absolutely breathtaking! What a way to start the year! Wishing you so much magic and peace all year long, Charlene. Welcome back! 🫶🏻
Thanks so much, happy to be back. 🥰 It really was a brilliant way to begin a year - hoping we might get to see them again this month too. So lovely. Sending you the same wishes, Liz - hope it’s a wonderful one for you too!
Loved everything about this Charlene! Wishing you a very wonderful 2025 🎉
Thank you so much, Lauren! Wishing you the same. 💋
Thank you 🥰
Half a world away we also had them that night over Southeast Alaska. Best I've ever seen. It was the most literal breathtaking I've experienced that didn't involve humpback whales 😉
That’s amazing! It must be even more breath-taking in Alaska. It really is incredible. I’ve never seen a humpback whale but we get a lot of orca pods and dolphins around Shetland and they’re so beautiful to watch. Nature is always the best show in town. 😍
Sometimes it's hard (ok all the time for me) to remind yourself to take care of your mind and body. I've burned out on my fiction writing two years in a row after making attempts to go back to it. I think our bodies know when we're fried, and they have a pesky way of forcing us to rest even when it's not the thing that comes to mind. Nice post. Here's to having more focused time on ourselves in the new year!
It' really is hard all the time to take a rest, isn’t it - I guess that’s what we get for living in a capitalist nightmare that makes us feel we’ve got to be robots when it comes to work. 😭 The body is definitely worth listening to, that’s so true. I think I’m used to listening to my body when I’m ill but not when I feel well. Thanks so much for reading, Jen, hope it’s a year that gives you exactly what you need. 💖
Thanks Charlene, I think this year is going to be awesome for me personally! Sure, there are plenty of road blocks, but I feel so much calmer now than I did ten years ago.
I was raised to be productive, without rest. I spent time with my family over the weekend and noticed their inability to rest. Even at 83, my mom is wiping countertops (that aren’t dirty) and moving things around. She doesn’t stop until the end of the day. I don’t want to wait that long. I am snuggled on a couch pet sitting 2 cute pooches. I am resting as I reach out to connect after a long break from Substack. Feet up and everything. ❤️😂
My MIL wipes the counters down with Windex every day! She gets so mad about it, but whatever. My family life is very challenging with two special needs kids; sometimes my attention is simply needed elsewhere. I've also taken to having a 20 minute nap every day if I can swing it. :-)
What a wonderful way to support yourself, especially when life is challenging. Early on in motherhood, I realized that my house would suffer so I could be more present with my kids. They needed to run and be wild outside. My mom would have died to see my house most days.
Yes, it's great. The more i learn German, the more i feel more itch to explore it (I've also found a very good channel in YouTube named "Easy German". All of their hosts are great). Consistent practice truly makes perfect.
The "mirrie dancers" is perfect - to describe the movement of the lights and the joy they bring. And I'm glad you saw them on New Year's Day, it seems like a good omen for sure. And pleased you took time out for yourself. Wishing you a fab 2025 Charlene!