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Creativity

January Ruminations

January 29, 2016January 29, 2016 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 11 comments
January Ruminations

Reflections on the month of January. // dreams-etc.com

January was an eventful month. We said goodbye to my sister’s dog Wolf and I was focused on Little One’s recovery from an injury. My mind was also on a couple of projects from work, but I still unplugged more than I did most of last year. A friend and I started making some plans for the year–creative endeavors and things we want to do.

Through it all, I didn’t get any work done on my own creative projects. And that’s okay.

I decided that January would be a month for me to think through my writing projects. I wanted a list of projects that I’d like to work on and I wanted to write down some of the details related to each of these that have been on my mind. I haven’t done that yet, although it’s still on my to-do list. (Saturday, I’m looking at you!) But I’ve been in the fiction writing mentality more this month than I have been for awhile and I’ve been letting my mind do its thing. I’ve been so focused on being in control and directing all of my fiction writing-related thoughts for quite some time and it wasn’t working. I need serendipity in my writing life and in trying to have so much control I was cutting that out.

I’ve also been listening to a podcast of interviews with YA authors throughout the entire month. It has been so inspiring and motivating to listen to some authors that I really like talk about their life/writing (along with some authors whose books I haven’t read).

As I’ve been listening to the advice these authors have given and as I’ve relinquished the control I’ve been holding onto, one novel idea has been coming to mind. I’ve been thinking through some of the scenes that I’ve had in mind and getting to know the characters again, so that’s the one I’ll be working on starting… now! (My mom was happy when I told her… she’s been telling me to finish this one for awhile.) I’m really excited to get back into this story!

Hopefully February will be another month of learning to let go of that control as I work on this novel.

Most Popular Posts on Dreams, etc.

>> Books I Loved in 2015

These are my favorite of the books that I read in 2015. Some of them were released last year, but not all of them were, so I split this post up into two sections, starting with those that came out in 2015. The books are listed in the order that I read them.

>> Wolf

Fifteen years ago I met you for the first time. You were just a tiny puppy and I held you in the palm of my hand. You were so quiet and still that I hoped you were still breathing (you were!) and I hoped you would be the dog they would take home. I was so happy when you were! Somehow, I expected you to remember me a couple months later when they brought you home. You didn’t, but I don’t think it took long for the two of us to become buds.

>> Anticipated YA Releases in 2016 (January – June)

At the start of each year I look through lists of YA novels that will be released and make my own list of books to look out for. I mostly write YA, so I like to have an idea of what’s coming out. It’s also nice to have a list to consult each month so that I don’t miss out on my most anticipated reads for the year

>> On Cultivating a Night Routine

Each night I’d log off the computer and spend the rest of the night giving her tummy rubs while reading or watching TV until we both fell asleep.

Posts Around the Web

>> Love this post from Chelsea at truelane about Goals Adrift.

>> Are You Ready from Chelsea at The Girl Who Loved to Write made me tear up.

>> Hannah from Just Bee offered some great tips with 6 Things You Can Do to Satisfy the Travel Bug.

>> Why Taking Time to Reflect Matters from Summer at Coffee With Summer struck a chord with me this month.

WHAT HAVE YOU THINKING ABOUT IN JANUARY?

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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Currently // January 2016
February 2016 Goals

11 comments

  1. Candy says:
    January 29, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Hope it gets better for rest of the year.

    Reply
  2. Lisa says:
    January 29, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    January has been a crazy, crazy start to a new year. I am trying to turn it around now.

    Reply
  3. Charlotte says:
    January 29, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    I hope to hear that things pick up soon–and I love that you are revising old characters in books you’ve put aside for a while. Sometimes that needs to be done–sheds new perspective when we get together with them again šŸ™‚ And also I would love to check out some of those podcasts. I keep meaning to listen to more.

    Pictures of wolf <3 <3 <3

    Reply
  4. Cara says:
    January 29, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    Chelsea’s posts at The Girl Who Loved to Write are always so good! Thanks for sharing your favorites this month! šŸ™‚

    Reply
  5. Linda says:
    January 29, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    Crystal – just thinking of you as we are on vacation with friends who have a Cavalier and I had to bring up pictures of yours of course! Theirs is brown and white and short ears. Name is Charlie. Should we even get a house dog I think we need to check these out. Your February is going to be fantastic!

    Reply
  6. NYG@NaughtyYogaGirl.com says:
    January 29, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    Awww – sending you big love and best wishes for February! P/S Love this round up idea for the month … I may have to start doing this myself. Thanks for sharing! šŸ™‚

    Reply
  7. Ashley says:
    January 29, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    Looking forward to hearing more about your writing ambitions and I hope your February is awesome!

    Reply
  8. Flight & Scarlet says:
    January 30, 2016 at 1:06 am

    I can’t relate to the whole trying to control thing! I wonder if it’s just acceptable that life is simply chaos that we pretend to control. I don’t know how January has come to end so quickly! I had intended to have so much me time this month, and instead, this is my first forced me-time weekend — I’m declining everything, and still feel stretched too thin. Thanks for the relatable post.

    Reply
  9. Toni says:
    January 30, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    January has not been the month I thought it wold be, here;s looking forward to a better year ahead!

    Reply
  10. Amy Jones says:
    February 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm

    I hope the upcomming months bring you more joy. chin up, work hard and hope for the best!

    Reply
  11. Charlotte | The Midnight Blog says:
    February 2, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Wishing you all the best for february, Crystal! x

    Reply

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. šŸ˜ PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 1. We went on a rather unvent Iceland, Day 2, Part 1. We went on a rather unventful Northern Lights tour the night before and slipped in a few hours of sleep before meeting our bus for the Golden Circle tour. Our tour guide was @busdriver_annie and she was amazing! Pictured: Faxi (the small waterfall) Gullfoss (the big waterfall), a wool market where we also saw some animals, and Geysir (the hot springs area). Geysir is actually the most famous geyser in the world but it doesn’t erupt anymore. However, Strokkur erupts every 5 - 10 minutes. I’ll share more photos from the tour soon!
Iceland, Day 1. We landed bright and early at 6:30 Iceland, Day 1. We landed bright and early at 6:30 am, dropped off our bags at the hotel, and went exploring. We saw HallgrĆ­mskirkja, the amazing view from the bell tower, the rainbow street, and walked down Laugavegur. Swipe to the end to see the view from our apartment!
Scenes from November, which were mostly at the dam Scenes from November, which were mostly at the dam apparently.
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