Cuffing Season

So I touched on this a little on Sunday’s podcast episode, “Levels of Loneliness”. Now that we’re officially in the season of hibernation, also known as “cuffing season”, I’m trying to keep as busy as possible. Not to say that I’m susceptible to falling into a seasonal situationship, I’m just mindful that a combination of boredom, cold weather and the sentimentality of the upcoming holidays can lead you to making surface connections that you otherwise wouldn’t make. Not to take away from other genuine relationships that’ll form during this time, but for those of us who live in the Northeast, the weather and SAD is influencing some of our decisions when it comes to coupling up.

Even though I’m busy, I’m also carving out the time to take inventory of my life. My career is on track, my friendships are mostly intact (I need to do some check-ins with folks I hadn’t talked to in a while) and my family life is as good as it’s going to get. I’ve recorded two episodes of the podcast so far and have been keeping up with my blog posts. I have resumed my family history project and hope by the time it’s completed, it’ll culminate in my family’s first family reunion. I’ve gotten through three weeks of my class, with 5 weeks left and I’ve already registered for classes for Spring session, which will take me through the middle of May 2024. Work is picking up some in the recruitment realm, but I’m looking forward to the slow down that the holidays will bring. I’m looking forward to more rest. I’m already drafting my “out of office” messages for my email accounts. Looking at all that I have going on, I don’t have time to get “cuffed”.

For me, cuffing season has been replaced by my self improvement season. I’m still going strong with the increased fitness and healthy eating regimens. A lot of unpacking is happening in therapy still but I’m walking away with new ways of dealing and reflecting. I’ve had moments of weakness where I’m tempted to get back out to see what and who is out there but then I’m reminded I have much work to do still. I’m still on my “Alchemist’s” journey. This season should be used to figure out what I truly need in all of my relationships. It’s also for me to figure out how to be a better version of me and how I should be showing up for the people I love and care about, without all of the self-sacrifice and martyrdom. I want to be a better daughter, sister, friend, colleague and eventually an awesome partner to my future person. I’m exactly where I need to be right now.