Winter Solstice
The time between sunrise and sunset creeps to a narrower distance. Finding the time to be outside and enjoy sunshine, daylight and the warmth of light on the face is limited. Snow, frost or ice on the ground seems to make that window of opportunity even smaller. It is easy to get stuck inside our own heads and our individual lives. We get caught up in our goals and plans and almost forget that we live in a world that is always there, humming away in the background. There is an internal shift that occurs when we tune into that background and really give it our attention. It's as if we are discovering a more expansive world, because we are. Then add the shorter days, lack of daylight, colder temperatures and stack in the holidays.
This last week of as we wind down to the Winter Solstice seems even darker as we watch every day come to a closure sooner than the one before. Hold on, we are days away from the turning point and the days will stretch little by little in less than a week. Until then, do not fear! Challenge the lack of warm day light and layer up and get out and go! Get out and discover, it makes us feel rejuvenated and more expansive. Hi ho hi ho, the mountains are calling and off I go!
Getting outdoors just takes a little more preparation of layering the Winter clothes, keeping the hat and gloves at the door to grab on the way out. "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best", as my dad would say. Prepare in the car, back packs, and just for the quick short trip to the store. Keep the gas tank above half and keep topping it off, hard for some of my friends to do who live on the edge. Ice scrapers, extra blanket, gloves, coat, water and snacks to add to the emergency kit when out and about, don't get caught stranded on a road in Winter conditions.
How do you beat some of the Winter dark cold day blues? Keep the fire burning, light a scented candle, enjoy white twinkle lights to add some happiness and cheer. Little lights are not just for a Christmas tree. Don't be afraid to venture out and use all the senses to soak in the Winter days! Boots, hats, gloves, layers and go! The crisp fresh air, the night time sky of a million natural white twinkling lights. There are many trails to venture, just plan ahead and know the conditions of your destination. There are opportunities in lower elevations to avoid slippery roads. If you can't drag yourself outside, then open the window covers and let that short hours of sunshine come on in and tune into the sounds of the great outdoors instead of letting them fade into the background.
"I do not know it the trees can speak
I do not know if I have the ears to hear them.
But what if they can and if we could?
What would it be then
To walk out in that wonderfully
Uncultivated choir.
The slow honeyed voices
Filling the valley with their
strange harmonies.
And the only thing we had to do is stand
with the other living things of the world
and listen" @ quinnb-poetry.
