I awoke Monday morning, New Year’s Day, thankful for the year past and excited for the year ahead. I poured a cup of coffee and sat down in front of the fire with our Siamese Applehead cat Tao to take a deep dive into Veranda’s Jan/Feb issue whose focus is on preservation. What an endlessly inspiring magazine. It got me thinking about preservation as a holistic pursuit and one that begins with self and home. Preservation need not be just about architecture and craftsmanship but in traditions like ritual and gatherings. On a personal level, preservation can be a beautiful journey when its focus is on family and self. It's about taking the time to gather those family recipes, not just at the holidays, but on any day, and making a meal together. To save the amaryllis bulbs from Christmas past so that we can plant them, alone or with family and friends, to see them bloom again in the Spring. To take that long walk with friends and neighbors after the Thanksgiving meal to foster community and good health. To have a cup of coffee and be still New Year’s morning for a moment of self-reflection —my favorite Idle Hour.
Spend some time this New Year thinking about the things you would like to preserve in your life – your health, traditions, recipes, gardening, a morning ritual, your family history, etc. and enjoy the journey. Happy New Year.