It has rained for almost two straight weeks in my world. Rain isn’t terrible, and I know we need it, and sometimes I even like it. Sometimes, the rain feels right. But not when it rains continuously for days on end. Luckily the sun came out this weekend and the earth is starting to dry up, but I just saw the weather forecast for this coming weekend and, guess what? It just might snow again!
Hi, everyone! It’s time for the yearly winter solstice post! *This post was originally published on 12/21/2013 but is being reposted below with a few updates*
No matter what our spiritual beliefs, or in what part of the world we live, we all share the turning of the sun on the solstices. Today is the 2018 Winter Solstice, or as it’s more commonly known, the first day of winter.
The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the longest night, the beginning of winter and the return of the sun. After this night, the days will begin to get longer and we’ll have the opportunity for a new beginning.
This is a natural time for letting go and saying farewell. Release your resentments and regrets into the darkness, knowing they will be transformed with the return of the light. Renew your visions for the new year and remember that it is important not to judge yourself by “success” or “failure” in this past year but by the true quality of how you lived your life and whether you were a good influence on your world.
In the coming year, try to create enriching experiences for yourself and continue to look forward. See this as an opportunity to shape your life more positively, with awareness and intention. Dedicate all of your happy, joyful experiences to every living being that is able to share that good energy, and dedicate all of your painful, difficult experiences to uplifting yourself and others.
Death and rebirth, the passing of the old, and the slow emergence of the new. Helping one another through the dark. Sharing with the less fortunate. Being thankful for our past blessings and for prosperity in the future. The natural cycles of our world. All of this is the spirit of the solstice, the season I celebrate.
Celebration Ideas
This year for the winter solstice, I plan on lighting some candles and reflecting on all of the things I’m grateful for from the past year and letting go of all the resentments I might hold. For anyone that has lived through 2018, you can probably agree that this could be a really helpful step for preventing so much negativity in the coming year. I want 2019 to be better, not just for me, but for the world. This is what I will reflect on tonight with my candles. If you’re interested in doing the same, it’s really easy. Here’s what I’m going to do:
- Write down my resentments and regrets from this past year on a post-it note
- Write down my visions/resolutions for the new year on another post-it note
- Quietly reflect on the negative note, and then let all of those feelings go. Burn the note with a candle.
- As I burn the note, I’ll begin to focus on the positive for a new year and make a promise to myself that I will try to create enriching experiences and do all that I can to positively shape my life in the coming year.
Celebrating the solstice/winter is very easy, even if you’ve never done it before or are just starting out in this journey. Here are a few other ideas:
- Greet the sun at dawn on solstice morning by ringing bells.
- Create rituals, having feasts (pot-luck), and a gift exchange
- Create your own family tradition by gathering in a circle around candles. Each person can light a candle and talk about something they’re grateful for or something they wish for another person in the coming year.
- Gather around a bond fire and have each person state what they would like to give up about the past and what they envision for the future.
- Light candles: a different candle for each of the twelve months on the 12 days before the solstice. Light the center candle on solstice day (represents the return of the light)
- Contribute to wellness on the planet: donate food or clothing, meditate for world peace, make a pledge to do some form of good in the coming year.
Creating a meaningful celebration of winter solstice can help us cultivate a deeper connection to nature and family and all the things that matter most to us.
Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!
When I hit 30 years old, I started feeling like my body was falling apart. I definitely felt that way earlier last week when I broke my little pinky toe! I’ve stubbed my toes a million times and, while painful, they were no big deal. This time, however, my toe broke. Like, for real broke.
How did I break my toe, you ask? Was it doing something cool like learning how to skateboard or sliding into third base? Of course, not. I broke my little pinky toe on the corner of an ugly box in my living room that holds a stack of magazines I haven’t looked at in ages. Totally unsexy.
I was chasing after that beautiful boy of mine when I rounded the corner of the couch and stubbed my toe on the box in the bottom of the photo above. Of course it hurt and I didn’t think much of it until I looked down and saw that the toe was facing the opposite direction than what it should have been facing. Ouch! For a split second I thought I should just snap it back into place but I didn’t. I called Nick to come home and take me to urgent care where they sent me to the orthopedic urgent care. There, they set it back in place, buddy taped it (taped it to the toe next to it to keep it from moving too much, and fit me for a boot. I left with crutches. What an eventful day!
The next day I had a therapy appointment so Nick had to stay home from work in the morning to drive me. I didn’t have to use the crutches long because I was able to walk with the boot after a few days. Then, by the end of the week I was able to drive. I go back next week for x-fays to determine whether my toe is healing properly, and I’m hoping that the doc will tell me I can wear regular shoes again as long as I keep it buddy taped. Wish me luck!
Each day I play a fun game where I find cute socks that I can wear with the boot, like these peanut butter & jelly socks!
Scroll down to the bottom if you want to see a photo of the toe facing the wrong direction right after I broke it. It’s not as bad as it sounds, I promise. But I wanted to provide a warning in case you’re sensitive to that sort of thing.
Have you ever broken a bone?
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One of my favorite things about this time of year is snow. I love snow! Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve looked forward to those big, fluffy flakes falling each winter. I remember the mornings of a fresh snow fall, racing to put on as many layers of clothing as I could to stay as warm as possible and running outside with my brother with our makeshift sleds and we would play for hours, feet and noses happily frozen. One time I decided to explore the snowy woods around my house. It was the most peaceful I’d ever felt, just walking around and looking at trees that were blanketed in soft white, the quiet stillness of the forest filling me with calm. It’s one of my favorite memories. And that’s why I’m always thankful for – and looking forward to – those sunny winter days.
Last week a snow storm dropped 8+ inches on our town and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy every minute of it! Even though I only went outside twice, I spent most of the first evening watching it quietly fall and most of the second evening cooking in my kitchen where I could watch it from the window. I did bundle Sebastian up so that he could experience his first snow. He didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm for the cold white stuff but we did manage to get a cute little smile out of him. I’m sure that as he gets older he will like the snow just as much as I do. But, if he doesn’t, that’s okay, too. He can sit inside, drinking hot cocoa with his dad while I’m outside enjoying the flakes.
Sunny winter days are perfect for bundling up in cute hats, scarves, and coats when venturing out into the snow snow; drinking hot cocoa in your mittens; and watching the bright, winter sun glitter. I really do love the bright sunshine cutting through the chill in the air. It’s alsoincredibly beautiful. The white snow provides the perfect backdrop for making the colors on anything pop. The blue sky is bluer, the evergreens are greener, the cardinals are redder. It’s absolutely stunning. And the snowy winter nights are made for wrapping up in soft blankets and drinking warm beverages by the fireplace, a good book in hand. These are the days I look forward to all summer long.
How do you feel about snow?
About Me
Hi, I’m Nikki. This is where I blog about my life and personal style. I’m a wife and mom, public health professional, sushi lover, wine enthusiast, and coffee snob. Welcome to my little corner of the world where I try to lead by example!