January 2026 has been a lot.
Wild temperature swings. Snow in places that don’t usually see it. Ice where you least expect it. Storms rolling through one after another. It feels like every forecast comes with a disclaimer and every plan feels a little tentative. Even if you’re not directly in the path of the weather, it’s hard not to feel the unsettled energy of all that is happening right now.
When the world feels unpredictable, winter has a way of slowing things down anyway. Roads clear out. Schedules shift. Sound softens. Whether we choose it or not, cold weather presses pause and asks us to move a little more carefully, a little more thoughtfully.
I’ve been thinking a lot about that slowdown.
When things slow down, different kinds of questions surface. We notice what’s underneath instead of what’s loud. We linger instead of rushing to wrap things up. That idea has been sitting with me as I’ve been writing and sharing more about curiosity, thinking, and how we navigate the rapidly changing world.
Along those lines, I wanted to share something that feels especially meaningful to me. An article I wrote was just published in Parenting for High Potential, NAGC’s magazine for families. If you’re a member, your copy should have arrived last week. If not, you can read it here: Wonder, Wisdom, and the Algorithm: A Parent's Guide to Gifted Kids & AI.
This piece matters to me for a few reasons. It gave me the chance to write about AI while the conversation is still unfolding, not years after the fact. I wrote it back in early October, and the quick turnaround felt like a small but important win for thoughtful, human-centered conversations about technology.
It also marks the first time my R.A.B.B.I.T. framework appears in print, which feels like a milestone in a much larger curiosity project I’ve been quietly building. There are rabbit holes everywhere right now, and yes… something tangible will be hopping into the world this spring.
We’re also just one week away from the first From Frost to Fire session with the Secret Sauce Society. If teaching feels a little iced over right now, this series is designed to help gently refuel your thinking and energy so you’re not just pushing through until spring, but actually carrying some warmth with you along the way. If it’s the right season for you, I’d love to have you join us.
Before you go, here’s a small winter curiosity invitation you can try yourself or share with a gifted kid in your life. No rushing. No right answers. Just noticing.
Winter Curiosity Prompts
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What does winter force to slow down?
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What do you notice in winter that you don’t notice the rest of the year?
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What would it look like if your thinking moved at “winter speed”?
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What looks like nothing is happening in winter, but actually isn’t?
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If winter were trying to teach you something, what lesson do you think it’s offering?
Winter doesn’t stop things. It changes how they grow.
Thinking of you and hoping you’re staying warm,
Brian
Responses