Ode to Winter Solstice

In our part of the world, the shortest day of the year is upon us, better known as the longest night of the year.  December 21^st is the day that the sun takes its lowest and shortest path across the northern hemisphere.  Here in Eastern Washington we get a whopping seven hours of daylight.  It’s the day that we officially usher in winter, although in our neck of the woods, the weather has made us feel that winter rudely stepped out of line and pushed aside autumn a few weeks ago. 

For the past six months we have watched the sun slowly sink lower into the sky and our daylight continually shrink.  Because of the earth’s tilt, those of us in more northern latitudes experience a greater shift in amounts of daylight between summer and winter.  The natural light in a day increases or decreases depending on the time of year, about a minute per day.

I may have mentioned ad nauseam that the hardest thing for me about winter is the darkness that sets in like a soul-sucking dementor.  It does a number on my usually optimistic mindset and makes me want to hibernate till spring.  I’m that person who nightly lights a collection of candles trying to create a sense of brightness, even if it’s false one.  But I’m trying very hard to look for the good in every day, and there is good to be found even on the shortest day of the year. 

Winter solstice is the day that flips a switch, even if it’s a dimmer switch.  It’s the signal we’re now slowly beginning to climb out of the darkest time of year and our descent into darkness reverses.   A sunny day in the winter months can feel lighter and brighter than a warm summer day.  It’s renewing and rejuvenating and hopeful.  Another good thing is that I’m awake to witness sunrise AND sunset as they splash those lovely pastels along the horizon.

So here’s my ode to winter solstice.  It means that brighter days are ahead, even if they take some time to get here.  Spring still seems far off, so embracing the tiny progress toward it is the best path to take.  The days will inch slowly closer to those first blades of green grass and the crocuses poking through the barren ground. We can look forward to the migrating birds returning and adding to the feeling of enthusiasm for life in the great outdoors.  We’re reminded that as spring approaches as it always does, there will be that feeling of anticipation and lightheartedness once again.  Were it not for winter, we would not appreciate the newness of spring.  Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves that tomorrow is one minute lighter and winter will eventually give way to spring in this amazing cycle of seasons that we get to witness.  In the meantime, it’s ok to light an extra candle or two.