Hope-Full
Today is the Winter Solstice. It’s the longest night of the year, meaning the darkest night of the year. What I like about it is that, starting tomorrow, the light lasts a little longer each day. That’s hopeful. Hope-full.
In the movie Rise of the Guardians, Santa asks Jack Frost what his center is. Jack doesn’t know just then. Santa knows what his center is, and it’s wonder. There’s a great scene watching how his imagination has translated into all manner of toys floating around the room where they stand. He often says in the film he knows things to be true because he can feel it in his belly.
The social workers I supervise towards clinical licensure and I discussed this movie for group supervision earlier in the month looking at themes, thinking about what it would be like if any of these characters were our clients. A common thread among the characters is that they have to face and lose something in order to gain something. They all had to be willing to change in some way - even if they didn’t.
In the classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, James Stewart has significant FOMO until he’s been given a chance to see what life would be like had he never been born. He has to lose something in order to gain something. As Clarence (his guardian angel) says, George Bailey has been given a great gift.
Longer light. Change. Willingness. Centeredness.
Today is a great day to be still at some point. Even if it’s for a short while. Quiet. No devices.
It’s an opportunity to notice. Even if you sit still for five or 10 minutes, notice. Our thoughts can race; they can ramble; they can make no sense, and they can repeat. This is normal.
In this holiday time of year, consider inviting the separating, the respelling and re-framing of holiday into holy day. It’s a holy time of the year. Sacred.
Try this:
Sit still for 10 minutes. Close your eyes if that feels good and right to you. Write about the experience afterwards.
Light candles and turn off the lights after dark tonight. Notice how you feel in your body. Notice how your senses respond. Write about it.
Set an intention of what is ready to be released and what is ready to come. Write about it.
Let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear from you.