winter blues and other melancholies

winter is a really rough time of year.

it’s a time to hibernate and sleep and breathe and recoup, but sometimes, you don’t really get that option, so you dig your heels in and put your energy toward everything else that needs attention and forget about the rest.

and you know what?

that’s okay.

we have this maddening societal need to always hustle, always move, and i really truly think that’s the cause of a lot of our problems.

granted, society is also set up in a way that also necessitates the need to always be grinding, but that isn’t the best case scenario in the long run.

no wonder we’re sick and burnt out all the time.

this winter, try to take some time to breathe and be and rest.

not that you need my permission to do so, but i promise you it’s okay.

the world will be there when you get back to it, whenever that might be.

xx

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solstice blessings to us all

it’s fitting that there was snowfall last night, calm and quiet, with little wind to usher in the shortest day of the year.

many people, myself as well sometimes, don’t enjoy the snow or cold or bitterness that seems to trail after every thing and one this time of year, but the snow last night was a welcome one.

waking up to a pristine unbothered whiteness and a crisp chill was a reminder to take it easy and to take the time to slow down, dress warmly and go with intention into the new cycle.

on this shortest day of the year, i will be taking the time to reflect on the last 12 months and meditate on how i’d like to spend the next 12 upcoming.

we can leave the past behind us, but we do ourselves a great disservice if we fail to learn from both our triumphs and mistakes.

i would implore you to also make a moment to sit with yourself, to check in, and to take stock of what’s important to you. it’s okay if those things aren’t the same as they once were. people grow and change, and with that, their priorities.

may you find peace and happiness with your life, your self, and those around you in the coming year.

happy solstice.

xx

winding down

this time of year is one of my favorites.

it holds a lot of meaning from my childhood, in that it means family coming together after months apart to celebrate life and each other and all the fun things we’ve done and accomplished since last we spoke.

it means that the days are getting shorter as we near the winter solstice, reminding us to take time to rest and relax and it’s okay if a task didn’t get done, it’s a problem for tomorrow.

it’s a reminder that with every cycle’s ending, there’s also a beginning and while sometimes we aren’t looking forward to it, change is a good thing and keeps us from becoming complacent.

i, myself, have been dealing with a lot of change during the last quarter of this year and not all of it has been good, but because of it, i feel like i’m stepping more into who i am and who i want to be, and that’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it?

this time of year is a reminder to slow down, enjoy some comforts, and open your mind to the idea of change so that when it happens?

you’re ready to receive whatever the universe has in store for you.

i know i am.

are you?

i hope you all have the very best time this yule season, with family, friends, and those you hold dear.

be safe. be well. be kind.

xx steph