As Imbolc approaches on 2/2, I find myself leaning into what this moment represents—light returning, intention renewing, and the quiet work of tending what will soon grow. It’s a fitting pause in the middle of winter: not the end of cold, but a promise that something is stirring beneath it.
Lately, my focus has been simple and steady—keeping mind, body, and spirit healthy. Less forcing. More listening. More practices that restore rather than perform. There’s a different kind of strength in that.
Honoring Endings (and What They Made Possible)
This season also comes with an ending. The Hairy and Heavy podcast has wrapped due to personal time conflicts with one of the hosts. Endings are rarely tidy, but they’re still worthy of gratitude. That show carried meaningful conversations, laughter, and connection—and I’m thankful for what it was and what it made room for next.
Some chapters close not because they failed, but because life asks us to re-balance.
Looking Ahead: Travel, Adventure, and Return
Slowly but surely, plans are taking shape for the year’s adventures—booking travel to Tennessee for personal relection, Dubai to present research and connect with colleagues from around the world, and Paris for a sweet 16 trip. Each trip holds a different kind of meaning: rest and roots, scholarship and sharing, curiosity and wonder. Planning them feels like laying breadcrumbs into the future—small acts of faith that say, we’re going somewhere good.
Making Home a Haven
Closer to home, I’ve been sketching ideas for bathroom updates and a refresh of our primary bedroom. There’s something grounding about improving the spaces that hold our daily lives. It’s not about perfection; it’s about comfort, function, and care.
And while New England keeps the cold coming, we’re well prepared—stacked wood, a faithful wood-burning stove, and that deep, radiant warmth that turns winter nights into a kind of sanctuary.
A Blessing for the Year Ahead
As we cross this threshold into a new cycle, I want to send a blessing outward—to friends near and far, across time zones and seasons. May this year bring safety, steadiness, and moments of unexpected light. May we tend what matters, release what no longer fits, and stay kind to ourselves and one another.
Here’s to Imbolc.
Here’s to warmth—inside and out.
And here’s to a blessed year ahead.
— The Social Capitalist
The Official Author Page of Dr. Rick L. Mask (The Social Capitalist) and the Home of Social Capital 2.0 