As I sit here in the dark of pre-dawn with a cup of tea in my hand, I find myself thinking about the past year. While darkness still rules the sky, I know that the sun will be up soon after the longest night of the year. Today is Winter’s Solstice, and this is the day when the light starts to win out over dark, when the days, which have been getting progressively shorter, will begin to lengthen. It is the beginning of the march that will lead us into the rebirth of spring and the long, hot days of summer. For me, that is the time of growth and life as I bring my houseplants outside to enjoy the heat and the light that the earth provide, and the time when I sow seeds and watch them grow into the vegetables and fruits that will nourish not only our bodies but also our souls.
If it seems like I’m waxing a little too poetic or melodramatic, consider this. When I woke up this morning and realized the date, I felt the power of the darkness as I looked back to the past couple of years. Two years ago today, I was rushing to finish tasks at work and home while also planning for my upcoming absence. You see, on December 23, 2020, I was rolled into surgery to undergo a double mastectomy after cancer was found at my yearly mammogram. On that day, I failed to acknowledge the significance of this day because my focus was fully on the surgery to come. This morning, the thoughts of that time and the significance of this day mingled and tangled and I woke up feeling unsettled.
But then I was greeted by snuggly pups. And then a kiss by my hubby. Fifteen minutes spent moving my plants to containers for watering, which always brings me such great joy. Finally, the ritual of making my cup of tea before settling into my office so that I could spend an hour before work thinking and writing.
It’s that time to think and reflect, to look out the window and to marvel at the darkness, which for me is incredibly comforting and healing, that finally settled me.
Today is the Winter Solstice, and we enter into the coldest part of the year (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere). I love this time of year. The cold. The cloudy days. The long nights. I love them all because it is also a time of rest and reflection when we snuggle under blankets, enjoy a fire, read good books or binge watch our favorite shows. For me, it is a time to plan next year’s garden and to pick out seeds. It is a time to snuggle with the pups more. It is time to bake or cook favorite soups. It is a time of Hygge or, as my Norwegian family might say, Koselig. This is a time for me when I focus less on things outside my home and I embrace the people and things that bring me joy and comfort.
What I find myself wondering today, though, is why just one day? Or one season? If I find this time of year to be so refreshing and fulfilling, why don’t I try to hold on to the feelings year round?
My thoughts this morning turned exactly there, and I started trying to come up with ways that I can make the peace of winter solstice last throughout the year. What I found is that I’ve been missing out. It clearly is possible but it will take a little awareness on my part.
So how to do this? Here are the thoughts I’ve come up with today.
- Enjoy a fire throughout the year. Honestly, for me that is easy because I have one of those pretend fireplaces. It is our tv stand and the fake fire is strikingly realistic. While it is a heater, the “fire” can be run without any heat. So, even on the hottest day of the year, I can settle into the my chair and stare into the fire accompanied only by my thoughts and feelings.
BUT, I can also sit around the fire pit year round. Is there anything more transfixing than watching a campfire? Or, I can light candles in the house and, in doing so, create a cozy and relaxing ambiance. I’m sure you can come up with other ways to make this happen. - Get up before the dawn and before anyone else in the house. Now, I realize that some of you might not be morning people, but I urge you to give this a try–at least once. For me, the mornings are the best part of my day. There is something incredibly magical about making a cup of tea in the silence of the house, and then sitting quietly and enjoying the stillness of the day before chaos begins. In the summer, the light comes earlier, creating a different experience but peaceful none the less.
- Keep a Win journal. Take a few moments of alone time to reflect on your day and to note the wins, which can be emotional or physical. Did you get an unexpected hug from your child? Win. Did someone hold a door for you at the grocery store. Win. Did an old friend contact you out of the blue? Win. Taking a few minutes from time to time to focus on the good results in a tremendous sense of peace and contentment.
One caveat, though. I’ll say what I’ve said before about journals: they are valuable beyond measure because they allow you time with your own thoughts; BUT, that is negated if they become an obligation or a chore. For me, the Win journal is something I write in occasionally. I don’t require it of myself and I don’t beat myself up if I go three months without touching it. They goal is peace not guilt.
These three simple things are things we all can pretty easily do to try and capture the magic of Winter Solstice. I am sure you have others that you do, and I’d love to hear about them. This curious journey that we’re on is designed to lead us to happiness and contentment, and, perhaps, this helps you take a step in that direction.