Another nasty winter storm has slapped the area, leaving people buried in snow and shivering in near-zero temperatures (negative teens or lower in Celsius). Today sees the sun shining, but there’s a nasty wind out of the north-northwest and temperatures show no signs of going up. Local traffic is certain to be dicey at best. Thankfully, I am in a position where I am capable of working from home.

Doing so not only allows me the opportunity to feel more like a novelist, as they are a reclusive breed who rarely leave their homes, but also preserves energy that would otherwise be expended on my least favorite part of working in an office: the commute. Even though I moved closer to the office at the end of 2012, it can still be a major pain to get there even when conditions are good. And today, conditions remain dicey at best.

After doing so yesterday, I was able to make more headway in the new project (which needs a title at some point) and get a post over to Geekadelphia for the opening of the Hearthstone beta. Now, anybody can play! I’ve been trying to balance out my leisure time a bit more, and despite the advantages of working from home, I’m looking for ways and means to get out and about a bit more. Going strictly from home to the office and back again with deviations existing only in the context of errands can get tiresome.

Which is why I went to the cinema on Sunday night, and when Friday rolls around, I’ll tell you all about that.

It can be difficult to start over. The process consumes both time and energy, something that an individual may not have in abundance. It can even be frightening. Yet it’s something we have to do on a regular if not constant basis, to continue on our journey from where we are to where we want to be.

I’m struggling to maintain the groove of writing every day. Things were sporadic at the end of last year and I’m telling myself it’s okay to ease off of the throttle of some areas so I can focus more on others. I have big changes lining up for the year, and I want to be prepared so I can enjoy the benefits they’ll bring. I’m trying to recoup lost energy, and conserve it so I have some when I get done with the daily work.

I’m writing every day, and I feel like I’m doing a bit more than I have in months, but I’m still not quite up to 1000 words a day. I’m also easing back into a daily routine of exercise, and some parts of that are proving difficult. It’s going to get easier and I’ll see more progress, it’s just slow going right now. New beginnings are difficult.

To me, however, they’re always worth embarking upon. Every year, even every day, is a chance at a fresh start. I commented on this theme last year and I still hold to what I said. We have to keep trying. We can’t give up. When things are difficult or daunting or even just inconvenient, and the benefits are certain, we have to keep going until we attain those benefits.

Even if it means getting out of bed earlier.