Winter Solstice Reflections
"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." Albert Camus
"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu
"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." Victor Hugo
I'm writing this on the day of Winter Solstice 2023, the shortest day of the year. The year is coming to a close, the days are going to get longer, it's a time of renewal and return of the light - and it's a great time for a little bit of reflection of the past year.
I wanted to share 3 questions from Dr. Deb Dana, a teacher of Polyvagal Theory, who I studied with and love and appreciate very very much.
What has nourished you in the past year that you want to hold on to?
What has been draining and you’d like to leave behind?
What do you want to invite into the year to come?
Here are my answers:
1. Nourishing - dog walks with friends, yoga, bath bombs and reading books in the bath tub, my family, smoothies and teas, hikes in the mountains, nourishing food (especially my mom's), sleep (getting to bed early and waking up without an alarm, or sleeping in), Rick and being in his arms, hearing my kids laughing, hugs, potlucks with friends, chant circles, .....
2. Draining: when I get so busy at work I stop exercising; unnecessary worry and overwhelm, trying to control everything and everyone, overcommitting, putting too much pressure on myself, long to do lists, not having enough alone time, or too much alone time, getting stuck on Instagram, FB or amazon, .....
3. Inviting into the next year: feeling of calm, warmth, comfort and ease; self care; new trainings and learning and growth, deepening friendships, more art and music, more time in nature, more yoga, more bath bombs, vacation someplace warm in winter with the kids, more time connecting with my heart, body, and soul, ....
It feels nice to reflect like this. It feels very nice to have a break. It feels really nice to slow down. I'm ready for the next year. Here's to growth, resilience, nourishment, and the unwritten stories waiting to unfold in the chapters ahead.
Happy Solstice! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!