Well, it used to be. January scared me. For almost 30 years of my professional career, January was the start of the new work year. Yeah, I know that January has been the start of the new year for a long time. However, my work revolved around legislative sessions that began on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January.  

For the first six years, I was an elected State Representative from the town of Colchester. For the next 20+ years, I was a lobbyist representing a wide variety of clients from all aspects of life in Vermont.  Every other year brought new legislators and new legislation which I was expected to meet and learn. 

January could be daunting for me with a long, long “to do” list. One year I felt so overwhelmed. There were so many meetings and events scheduled that I didn’t think that I could do it. Plus, I had a family to consider. I realized that only complete and utter surrender to a power greater than myself would get me through the month. 

To that end, I read and studied the third step of AA every night for the whole month of January. Maybe I should have been able to get the message sooner, but I needed to reinforce the words of surrender every day. AA’s third step is all about surrendering to a Higher Power. My Higher Power is God. 

I trusted that God would be with me during my day, offering guidance when I didn’t know which direction to take. Trusting in God’s timing is a fundamental aspect of my spiritual journey. I often desired immediate solutions to my problems. However, God’s timing is perfect, and His ways are higher than my ways. When I trust in His timing, I acknowledge that He knows what is best for me and that He will provide for me in His perfect timing. 

Then January became February, and the world was still turning, and my life was in balance because I trusted in God’s unconditional love for me. The same unconditional love He has for you. 

Today I am amazed that January is almost over. Where does the time go? 

Terri