When does one earn the right to declare their dislike for January? Not merely due to post-holiday blues, winter’s chill or the return to routines, but also because, for some, it marks the beginning of new responsibilities and resolutions, a potentially overwhelming start. The month can also feel exceptionally long, for those anxiously awaiting their January salary. If paid in December, the countdown to January’s end is more about the next paycheck than the month itself.
My relationship with January swings between love and hate, though lately, it’s been leaning more towards the latter. Over the past three years, each January has brought significant life events or physical setbacks, urge me to pause, even more than originally planned. A car accident, a skiing injury, and now, an arm injury—all in January. Is the universe gently encouraging me to rest even more during this specific month?
Internally, I’ve kept a secret desire to take off from work starting December 20th, returning on February 1st, but the demands of corporate or government jobs make this impossible. Yet, after three consecutive January traumas, I can’t shake the fear of what the next January might bring. So, with these personal reasons, I declare my right to say, “I don’t like January.”
Acknowledging my feelings of dislike and fear has brought a sense of relief. It has granted me peace with my emotions, and I’ve come up with a few ideas on how to navigate them throughout the year. With only four days remaining in this January, I must confess that I can’t wait for them to pass. And can you blame me?
It’s essential to note that not everyone dislikes January, some genuinely love it, especially those celebrating birthdays during the month. These individuals, born in January, rightfully cherish this time, like Anna Codrea-Rado in article titled: Saying you like January is a bit like saying you like Nickelback, a difficult position to defend, featured in her amazing newsletter called A-mail. She beautifully writes about her love towards January and I enjoyed reading it. It gives me hope that maybe one day I might love January too. Happy birthday to Anna and all other wonderful January babies.