January is the open door, the threshold where we stand to enter the new year. Janus, the two-faced god, gives us new beginnings, transitions, changes. I don’t always take this opportunity to pause in the doorway of the year and consider what a blessing it is to begin again. I spent a lot of my life resisting change and dragging my feet when it came to new things. We live now in a time of great danger and real threats to human existence, and yet, I’m realizing that there’s always the possibility of joy ahead. Every day. And as Mary Oliver wrote, “Joy is not meant to be a crumb.” If the end of the world is near, why not hoover up all the joy possible as loss looms? If our chickens are coming home to roost, isn’t it even more important to celebrate all the precious things in the world that we take for granted? Poetry, cutthroat Scrabble, tax refunds, those heartbreaking polar bears, Kahlua milkshakes, Betty White, that great blue heron flying low, white caps on wild water, the daytime moon, curtains billowing in the wind from an open window. Joy doesn’t come naturally to me. Chalk it up to “disorder and early sorrow,” but I’m trying to balance out the knowledge of apocalypse and the need for action with the urgent human imperative to bear witness to the beauty of the world. World, I see you. January, I’m stepping through your door into newness, nowness. 

I love the brown Sherpa Bucket Hat I bought from Banana Republic—it’s soft and comfortable with a vaguely 60s vibe. They’re sold out now, but UGG makes a similar one in caramel, as does this site, and now I wish I had ordered that color. Always wanting what I don’t have!

One of my favorite pieces of music is the haunting “Song to the Siren” written by Tim Buckley and Larry Beckett. Many versions have been recorded, but the one I return to over and over in my playlist is by This Mortal Coil. Last month, the BBC podcast Soul Music, spotlighted “Song to the Siren” and featured various musicians and ordinary people recounting their reactions to the music. It was one of the most moving episodes I’ve heard on the podcast, and there have been many that brought me to tears. During the pandemic, I’ve gone through periods of feeling frozen, so I'm beyond grateful for musical moments that can pierce that numbness and make me feel human again 

Do you ever make recipes that call for two tablespoons of tomato paste and then have the rest of the can going to waste in the fridge? A friend told me about Tomato Powder, and since then I’ve seen it recommended elsewhere. I’m a big fan of Burlap & Barrel spices, but the other brand mentioned in the Bon Appetit article also sounds good. I can think of so many things to sprinkle this on, from guacamole to grilled vegetables to winter tomatoes for a shot of summer.

If you live in the Charleston area, why not start the year by exploring The Joy of Writing  with Stephanie Hunt and me. We’ll be holding workshops at Redux Contemporary Art Center the last Wednesday of every month, and we'd love to have you join us. If writing feels scary or daunting, we can help you turn it into play. Leave any insecurity, ego or unrealistic expectations at the door, and just come to discover the joy of writing. We’ll use prompts, exercises and readings to limber up our creative muscles, so whether you’re a beginner who wants to develop the writing habit or you're looking to evolve your practice, this is for you. No homework, no out-loud sharing unless you want to and no pressure. Each month’s session will feature a different focus or theme, so we hope you'll return for more. First class: January 26, 6-8pm. $40 Redux members/$50 nonmembers per class. (Covid vaccination required.) Register here.