December 21st (12/21) is a special day. For all of us, it is the Solstice (Winter/Summer, depending on your hemisphere), representing the turning point of light/dark. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days begin to gradually get longer, whereas it’s the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere. Personally, it's also a day that represents both birth and death, as well as light and dark. I was born on the Winter Solstice.

It’s the season when things both start to slow down (before they ramp up around the holidays in November to January), and get messy.

I live in a stunning area. I am surrounded by gorgeous gorges, a big, beautiful lake, and abundant natural areas to explore and spend time in. It is embarrassing to admit that over the years, the amount of time that I make for myself to spend in nature has dwindled, like the year one of our usually abundant waterfalls became a mere trickle. That is what had happened to me, slowly, unconsciously.  

I used to hear the question, "How do you resource yourself?" and my eyes would glaze over, and I'd begin rolling them so fiercely that I'd almost launch into a headache. Excuse me, what? What do you even mean by that?  

I am a mother. Because of this beautiful privilege, I do not merely care about what happens in my lifetime, but I think deeply about the world my kids and beyond will inherit. Please don’t get me wrong; I am not accusing non-parents of selfishness. I am merely saying that I deeply care about the fate of this planet for generations to come.

How do you prioritize yourself and your day of rest?

Have you ever had something that lights you up and excites you like nothing before? Maybe it’s the sweet, dreamy scent of a rose. Perhaps it’s holding a brand new life (human or animal), full of potential and possibility. The evoked feelings can sometimes linger, playing on repeat in the background.