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Winter Solstice
“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath.” ~Margaret Atwood Today, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice. The Farmer’s Almanac describes it as “the astronomical moment when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, and we have our shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.” No matter where you live, the solstice marks the official start of winter. While it seems counterintuitive, the longest night of the year also holds a glimmer of hope: Each day afterward will be…
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Gold stars
“Maybe one of these days I’ll be able to give myself a gold star for being ordinary, and maybe one of these days I’ll give myself a gold star for being extraordinary — for persisting. And maybe one day I won’t need to have a star at all.” ~Sue Bender, Plain and Simple In our early grade school years, teachers rewarded our best efforts with gold star-shaped stickers. Remember the delicious rush of achievement you felt every time your test came back with a bright gold star at the top? Even when we’re old enough to judge the quality of our own work, some of us still need validation or…
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Good reasons to love winter
“What’s the secret to beating back the metaphorical darkness? Accept the inevitable, tend to your physical and mental health, and stack the deck with feel-good activities….Focusing on all that makes you feel great will make the time fly by – and let you win at winter.” ~Frank Lipman, MD There’s a light dusting of snow outside my window this morning, and more on the way next week. I hate driving in wintery weather — but I’m trying to adapt when Mother Nature gives me the cold shoulder. Science now says that spending time in cold weather is actually good for our health and slows the aging process. Enduring cold temperatures…
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More stuff?
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.” ~Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up We spend the month of December buying and accumulating …. more stuff. Why? Because our Christmas tradition requires that we encircle a tree with all sorts of things that ultimately end up getting stuffed in a drawer or stashed on a shelf that’s already loaded with … more stuff! Oh, the irony. Come January, when the buying spree stops and the decorations come down, everyone will complain about the dearth…
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Christmas cards
“There’s nothing nicer than unexpected appreciation. If you’re grateful, get a pen.” ~Helen Ellis Some people tell me they don’t bother writing or mailing Christmas cards anymore. Social media is an easier way to send greetings without paper, ink, or postage. (I’ll admit there were years when I got lazy and mailed cards only to those who sent one to me.) The pandemic totally changed my mind. After months of isolation, I enjoyed reaching out to others through the mail — one of the few tangible ways I could. During lockdown, I also had extra time to make Christmas cards using my own photos, which I thoroughly enjoyed. More than…
