Over Sunday dinner at my home, a friend asked what we had coming up this week. Normally, I’ve got an answer (or twenty) to that question. A dear neighbor once described me as “not the type to let the grass grow underfoot.” That’s pretty accurate. I like to stay busy, and I never tire of exploring and getting to know our town.
But this time, when asked what was coming up, I had no answer. I paused—a bit dumfounded and said, “I honestly have no idea. I can’t think of a single thing.”

“Yeah, it’s that time of year. January and February always seem to have a nice lull,” he replied.
I’d never thought of it that way before, but he’s right. After the hustle of the holidays and the adrenaline rush of starting a new year, things seem to drastically slow down. There aren’t major holidays to plan or decorate for. Spring break is far off, and summer vacation plans are just tiny blips on the horizon. While December is jam-packed with special events, January’s calendar can feel stark naked in comparison.

My friend was right—there’s a comforting lull to this time of year. It’s nice to have a stretch when things hold steady. There’s still plenty of winter ahead, and in many ways, these days can blur together—a revolving door of nearly identical days and weeks. And yet, these are some of my favorite winter days because my favorite change is quietly unfolding. We just have be alert enough to notice it.

Although I find the good in just about every circumstance, there are things about living in Hotdish Land that are more challenging than others. For me, the hardest part isn’t the cold or the wind—it’s the dark. On Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year, sunrise is at 8:33 a.m., and sunset is at 4:53 p.m. That’s just 8 hours and 20 minutes of daylight.

The very next day, Dec. 22, we gain a mere four seconds of light. The change is imperceptible. Ten days later, things start picking up. By New Year’s Eve, we’re gaining nearly a full minute of light each day.

By now, in this January-February lull, the light is coming back hand over fist. By the time you’re reading this, sunrise will occur no later than 8:14 a.m., and sunset will fall after 5:43 p.m.—we’ve gained back more than an hour of light! What’s more, we’re reclaiming nearly three minutes of sunlight each day, a trend that holds steady through April. As your eyes read these words, we’re enjoying a day with 9 hours and 29 minutes of light.
Take a look around. Sure, there’s still snow on the ground, and the wind comes with a bite. You may wake at night to the rumble of trucks hauling piles of snow to the outskirts of town or find your car stuck in a drift if you’re not careful. But now, these things are happening in the broad light of day.

Like clockwork, just as winter begins to smear the days together, the returning light jolts me awake and brings life into focus. Yes, January and February can feel like a lull—but that’s not a bad thing. Life is too good and too short not to embrace a lull when it’s handed to you, especially one filled with a steady surge of sunlight paving the way to a Hotdish Land midsummer.

Remember, you’ve always got the right to be in control of your perspective. And two perspectives can both be true and honest. This is a hard part of the year when winter seems to drag on, but it’s also a beautiful time—when daylight accumulates quickly, and a change of season is noticeably closer. No matter how you feel about winter, take heart—each day between now and spring comes with a gift: three precious minutes of extra light to use however you see fit.

For more stories from life in Hotdish Land, join me at amyallender.com, or on Instagram @HeyMinot or @amy_allender.