Month: January 2026

Stay genuine, tables will turn

~ Fridgesays ~ Leave a comment

Anon

In a topsy turvy world of power and control, being genuine is a quality to not only admire but to aspire to.

World politics are currently at a level of utter bananas. Everyone is unsure who to believe, who is speaking the truth or who actually has concerns abouts their communities best interests.

I cant control oil prices, land conservation or much like yourself decipher where truth is hiding. It’s easy to read headlines and feel powerless, overwhelmed and confused. All you can control is yourself, so be genuine.

You don’t have to read the headlines everyday if they cause you to feel too much. Be genuine in what you can handle and spend your time both seeking answers and ensure you are well. It’s ok to turn the radio down, or not start the day with a diet of trauma – if what you need is to get outside and fine joy in the simplicity of the seasons changing.

When you interact with anyone, your best friend or a human you’ve never met previously and may never see again – be genuine. In a world full of lies, show up in your own truth. My parents encouraged me as a mini tot that ‘if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything’ it’s cliche and of course there are times when despite feeling negative we need to shout out injustices but most of the time it serves us to seek peace and walk away.

Recently, I have noticed that in my own universe I’ve turned to creative outlets as a way of reducing screen time and to occupy my mind, but the added joy of crafts and building something is the dopamine you experience when you’ve completed a project. These added joyful chemicals in my brain also help to shut the noise of the world out and encourage inner peace. In turn, this helps me to be genuine and able to give those around me the best version of myself. It’s not a complicated recipe and one that won’t fix the world, but it might just support you as we move through difficult times. When did you last make something or let your creative mind shine?

How lucky are we

~ Fridgesays ~ Leave a comment

Quote Anon

I have always had a strong dislike for car sales people, the reason is simple; they’ve always lived up to the stereotype of being pushy, arrogant and ultimately unhelpful. In the same way I’m not going to try and sell January to you. It’s bland skies, dark mornings and it feels naked, stripped from the tinsel and lights of December. I strongly believe January is for hibernating, staying home and resting. It’s not a season of dramatic change and that’s ok.

I’m now going to reframe January but don’t think I’m not aware of all the above, I’m not a car sales man and I’m not going to tell you that January will be amazing, only you can control that, we don’t have to hold the heavy weight of the new year either. After a December of social demands how lucky are we to have a slower paced month next. One that doesn’t demand or want, a month to quietly potter and plan…but demands little action. I’ve seen memes online about January having 2383 days in it and I agree it can feel long, especially if you were paid in early in December.

I am lucky that I don’t need to live pay check to pay check, I am lucky that I don’t desire to go out, content to snuggle down at home and happy to slowly step through January after the tornado of December. I think of January as an exhale. Of letting go, perhaps even with some light decluttering. As a huge lover of books January gives me time to immerse myself in literate and whilst I may be still, I’m thinking about spring, the year ahead and what I’d like to achieve – I’m just not taking action yet. How lucky are we. January is the dream month, the planning and the creative ideas coming together ready to launch but nothing that needs to begin today.

Often working people get the Sunday night blues and perhaps January is the Monday of the year. How lucky are we to have a fresh start. Mondays last just as long as the other six days and as we approach the end of our lives I’m sure we’d be grateful for every Monday we could gather, the same goes for Januaries.

Just because something doesn’t sparkle doesn’t mean there can’t be huge privilege within it. Rather than viewing the month with a heavy heart and a sense of blandness, look for the moments you can reframe and reflect the positive moments. Half way through the month now, it will soon pass – perhaps you can see you’ve already achieved something marvellous? Or perhaps you can find contentment in the stillness of this time. Whatever your own circumstances I urge you to reframe your world with a positive perspective, why? Because you are lucky you have the option to. Celebrate the small moments and I promise 2026 will be the year you flourish.

Will burn sage and bridges as needed

~ Fridgesays ~ Leave a comment

As we enter 2026 and pack away the Christmas glitz for another eleven months, we might be tempted to declutter our spaces. However, today’s post is about decluttering our energy.

I’m a huge fan of saging or using palo santo in my home. In fact there are many ways I reenergise my spaces. The woo woo meets science suggests that saging kills all energy leaving a blank surface, the bleach of the spiritual world so to speak. Palo santo just removes the negative energy, so is more like your kitchen disinfectant – a little less intense and leaves the positive energy behind. I use both depending on what I feel the space needs and whilst I cant scientifically prove it makes a difference, I can tell you it makes me feel like I’m taking action to improve my living space and energy, how I feel is often all I can control.

Another practice that I do is blow a pinch of cinnamon from the palm of my hand over the threshold of my front door, this is meant to invite money and abundance into my home, again no proof it works but it makes me happy.

Bridges are easier to burn but harder for people to do. If you don’t enhance my life (or those around me) I’m unlikely to contact you. If I’m the one always making contact, I will stop. It’s your loss.

When it comes to taking down bridges there are two aspects that often don’t get discussed. The first is that bridges can be rebuilt or upgraded. If you realise that a friend is no longer a joy but a burden, take the bridge down, if things alter you can always rebuild a new bridge, it might be smaller but friendships can be reestablished. When we discuss knocking down bridges and taking people out of our lives, we often think about the process like we blew the bridge up with nuclear weapons – never to return, in some cases this is useful but in others a little break can often allow you to reflect. Secondly, you get to decide what bridges you cross. You get to decide who you spend your time with. If we return to our bridge analogy then you are the toll booth manager. You say who crosses your bridge and when they can return, you also might need to complete repairs on your bridge eg. You both may need to reanalyse your relationship and give it the attention in needs. Bridge building is complex, much like relationships. Clear boundaries and communication are often important, less so that bridges perhaps.

Either way, as we begin a new year do what you need to ensure the space around you is positive. For some it maybe decluttering (always in my house), redecorating (always in my house) or making time to prioritise things that you want to achieve, be that eating less processed things, reducing sugar or exercising regularly. Whatever it is, always prioritise yourself.

Lights will guide you home

~ Fridgesays ~ Leave a comment

Lyrics from ‘fix you’ by Coldplay

In the last days of 2025, the blur between the dizzy heights of Christmas and the soft landing of 2026, I’ve been reading. Many of the books seem to have death as a theme or sub theme and it got be thinking about the bright lights often ‘seen’ in the moments we leave this world, scientists may suggest the lights are caused by our central nervous system closing down…but I’m a girl who loves a light. My Christian name ‘Lucy’ means just that and I adore a candle, a chandelier, a glint of a disco ball or the dazzle of the stars.

In panic and fear we may try to make this moment of cross over big and dramatic, we may decide to live without fear (sounds good to me) and jump out of planes (sounds less good to me), to fill the squares of social media with thrills, excitement and lavish living…but then I thought about the light and I created a game. The best bit of this game is it’s free to play and means you are living in the present ‘light’ and with this probably creating a authentic light of joy for later.

Here’s how it begins. I thought about the lights that I love, now it could be that December has influenced me but fairy lights are high on the agenda of ‘light joy’ – hundreds and thousands of tiny lights that make huge impact when strung together. Imagine your life a series of fairy lights as far as the eye can see! Exciting concept right?

Now the game: each day begins in your mind with a blank string of lights, by recognising moments of joy, glimmers that make you ‘light up’ you add a light to your string. I often go to sleep reflecting on what lights I had turned on that day, translating as I go to sleep bathed in positive thoughts of gratitude, laughter or happiness.

‘Tiny’ is often a word that is overlooked but I promise you the more you seek out the tiny moments of joy, the quicker your day lights up. I also found that when faced with the darker moments of life that appear, having my game of lights in your mind won’t stop negative things happening but will help you from not being sucked into negativity.

A couple of my recent light experiences:

I was driving through a forest near where I live and the leaves on the road in-front of me were whipped up by the wind like someone changing a bed sheet – it was like a scene from a Disney movie.

The sip of a perfectly made cup of tea and optimum temperature

Also, the moments just have to be what you experience but don’t have to happen to you. I was in a department store and a little boy was excited by the action figures, his Dad called him down with excitement to look at ‘more figures’ and he burst into laughter when he realised his Dad was talking about the aisle of Barbie dolls. Everyone nearby laughed at the little boys reaction.

I went into my favourite independent tea store and the cashier said I was entitled to a free box of tea thanks to my loyalty card. I opted for a strawberry, watermelon and lime loose tea.

Some of the moments are free, some belong to others and many of mine are often recognised thanks to Mother Nature or loved ones, either way I enjoy collecting them and hope you enjoy the game too, it needs a name – any ideas, comment below.

Happy New year to all of my readers wherever you are based in the world. You are always appreciated.