‘Tis the season (after The Season) for tireditis and colds. After merrily making Happy over Christmas we succumb to colds and general ‘blahs’ fought so valiantly during the holidays. Add New Year Blues and the onslaught of winter dreariness, and you get an even more serious case of tireditis (so tired it’s hard to move and even harder getting MOTIVATED to move, like, out of bed : )

But there’s a cure, sort of (beyond never-ending chores and duties, oops, opportunities to serve…)

J.R.R. TOLKIEN’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS … (& The Hobbit!)

I have read these books once a year every year since the 8th Grade. Since that was long ago, that means many times. Some years I read them more than once, especially in Africa since reading them seemed to help during ‘tummy troubles,’ of which there were MANY.

Calvin & Hobbes also helped, but laughing kind of hurts when your rear tushi is very sore during long nites of Montezuma’s Revenge. Add major bouts of all-nite nausea (like when all your insides spill outside) and tummy also gets a bit sore.

Combine BOTH, at the SAME TIME, and you have fun times in the overseas life of Virginia (the person, not the state.)

I know, I know  – T.M.I.!!!

Back to pleasant holiday reading. I usually start “The Lord of the Rings” before Christmas and finish by New Years (listening to classical Christmas music, kind of sets the mood.) This year started with “The Hobbit” earlier in December, but with the general craziness still winding my way this week through the “Return of the King“: Big Battle ahead while tired out Sam and Frodo make their way to the Mountain of Doom.

Cheating and watching the movies is not the same (since I have the extended version of each one running 4 and 1/2 to 5 hours each, that is a Bit Long.) Although the movies are brilliant (there are a few major deviations from the story, but Peter Jackson gives so much attention to detail, I am a mostly happy groupie of the films), the books are still SO Much Better. So much great story and opportunities to stretch our imagination muscles in Tolkien’s uniquely inspiring world of Middle Earth.

How does this cure tireditis? Well, Frodo & Company have a Tough Time of it. Lots of Doom and Gloom (the overwhelming kind) to face.

Yet they carry on. And on. And on. Not without loss, but they keep on going.

Hobbits are my kind of folks. They like to eat 6 meals a day (when possible), love going to parties and having good times, plus have fierce hearts and stout courage when it matters.

It’s a New Year. Perhaps some new opportunities are lurking on the horizon, but New Year Blues may be drowning your cheer with last year’s monsters digging their tentacles into 2012.

Maybe you don’t have Hobbits, Ents, Elves, Dwarves, Gandalfs, Aragorns, Faramirs, and the Riders of Rohan to help you. But, if you look around, you might find family and friends you’ve missed can help you with your battles.

Maybe you don’t have a Golden Ring (that must be destroyed to Save The World), but maybe there are some things that need casting into the Forever Fire to get a fresh start in the new Year.

Fears gotta go if you’re moving on to a New Thing: CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE!

Poof.  (That’s kind of wimpy, you may need a Gollum to push you to let go) :  POOF!

watch those fingers….

grace, peace & New Year Tireditis cures

Virginia : )

“…not all who wander are lost…”