My Winter Solstice

For the first time, I was excited for the Winter Solstice.

I used to dread it… all that darkness, coldness and gloom. The shortest day. The longest night.

This year feels different. I am thinking differently about rest, downtime, and restoring.

Those words used to be enemies. I was a go-go-go person. Work, family, volunteering, caretaking, home-making. Do it all and do it well. And throw in some holidays….more go-go-go.

My brain has shifted this year. I don’t want to go-go-go. I did hard things this month and every part of me is tired. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual fatigue has set in.

So here is what I am doing. I rested on the Winter Solstice. For most of the day. I rested my brain, my body, and also my soul.

I am sleeping on my body’s schedule. Not an alarm clock schedule.

I am taking time to do something restful each day: read, listen, be outdoors, snuggle with my dog or kids.

It’s Christmastime… so I’m still hustling with gifts, baking, parties, cookie swaps and get-togethers. I’m hustling to finish the business year strong and close all loose ends.

But I am fitting in quiet time. Restful time. Quiet time.

I read this passage that resonates with how I feel this year. I hope you discover your quiet, go inward, and discover the kindness of winter.

The winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this is a period of descent and rest, of going within our homes, within ourselves and taking in all that we have been through, all that has passed in this full year which is coming to a close... like nature and the animal kingdom around us, this time of hibernation is so necessary for our tired limbs, our burdened minds.

Our modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time; alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, comfort food and consumerism.

And yet the natural tug to go inwards as nearly all creatures are doing is strong and the weather so bitter that people are left feeling that winter is hard, because for those of us without burning fires and big festive families, it can be lonely and isolating.

Whereas in actual fact winter is kind, she points us in her quiet soft way towards our inner self, towards this annual time of peace and reflection, embracing the darkness and forgiving, accepting and loving embracing goodbye the past year.

~ Brigit Anna McNeill