A few weeks ago, I bundled up and went to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the dark. The Garden had put together a lovely after-hours winter solstice walk, and I wandered slowly down the guided path, listening to Celtic music and learning about plants significant to the season: yew, oak, birch, mistletoe, holly, ivy, pine.
It was… magical.
There’s something I find deeply grounding about the changing of seasons and significant days. Winter solstice – the darkest day of the year – is one of my favorite days, because every day after (until the summer solstice) is filled with just a little more light, as this half of our planet rotates toward the sun.
At first, the change can be almost imperceptible – particularly in New England, when the clouds and fog of winter set in, and the sun disappears for days – but there is more at work in winter than we know. Deep underground, tiny microbes and the root systems of sleeping plants are laying the groundwork for spring – as the earth turns, one day at a time, back toward the light.
* * * * *
Every year, along with the rest of the OneWord365 community, I choose a word that feels meaningful in some way, as a focal point for personal growth; the idea is to “go where it takes you; be who it makes you.” Last year, my word was “pause,” and dang… it was a doozy.
This year, my word is “light.”
As a solid four on the Enneagram, I’m definitely in tune with the part of human nature that tends to catastrophize. We come by it naturally – our ancestors needed this skill to survive – but it’s not quite as useful in the modern world. We’ve seen this propensity in action on a global scale over the past year; the world has so often felt shadowed by fear, uncertainty, and sadness. Owning this reality – experiencing it, leaning into it, letting it be what it is – is important, but we can’t stay only there forever. At some point, we need to start looking for the light.
Light is a multi-faceted concept; it can be a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. It applies to everything from coffee to clothing, from vision to weightlessness. It offers perspective, and it’s always there. Even in the darkest of times, light offers a much-needed contrast – and darkness cannot overcome it.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how this word goes to work underground in my soul, and how I’ll grow because of it. If you’d like to come along for the ride, I’ve challenged myself to post something that represents light – in all its dimensions – every day this year. Follow me on Instagram for daily updates, or check out my public album on Facebook (which I will try to remember to update weekly).
Here’s to a year filled with love, laughter, and happiness, friends – as we turn toward the light.
Grace and peace, always.
– Happy
