HOORAY! The seemingly endless bog-walk of January 2025 is finally over! With the conclusion of day 237 of the month of January, I’m happy to announce that our joyous fortunes can finally begin. Known as the ugly bookend that starts off the new year, January gives everyone feelings of dread and unsettling moodiness. It’s cold, it’s dark, and we don’t even have a Santa Claus fantasy to dream about anymore. 

But alas, my friends, those days are long-gone! 

However, there are a few uplifting rituals I learned this month that I’d like to carry over into the rest of the year. For starters, the dismal nature of this first month of the year taught me how to actively turn my mood around. Manifesting good vibes and cooking tasty food that makes my soul happy, the best parts of this month were largely self-made. Chili n’ cornbread, digital fireplaces, and your bingeable TV show on, the coziest, most wonderful moments were far simpler than you’d think. Alas, we can turn that frown upside down—we just need a little motivation.