Winter Solstice, when the day is shortest, the night is long and often cold.

I found this lovely article 13 Fascinating Winter Solstice Traditions Around the World. It’s pretty interesting. But the Winter Solstice tradition – or ritual – that I am most drawn to is the one that involves writing down the things you want to leave behind – resentments, unhelpful habits, and so on – and burning them in a big bonfire.

This year, I actually know somebody who’s hosting this kind of party at her home. She invited me, and I almost accepted, but my daughter is going, and they are good friends, and I would have needed to go with my daughter and the grands, and somehow, that doesn’t appeal to me in the same way that going to a similar ceremony on my own would.

Funny, isn’t it? I was telling myself that if I went, it would not be the same experience for my daughter. She’s looking forward to the ritual and I thought, if I were there, it wouldn’t be the same for her. And that might or might not be true. But at the heart of it, it is my own need driving me. I don’t want to be there as my daughter’s mom, my grands’ grandmother. But my initial instinct was not to own that for myself. I automatically wanted it to be this “thoughtful of others” thing.

Nope. It’s maybe a little bit about her, but mostly about me. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

But I feel (for the millionth time) the call to be more in touch with my own goddess energy. I think I’m going to try to take these dance classes – it’s called 5Rhythms. Some one offers them near me. They’re affordable. I will have to clear the time for it, I’ve been seeing clients at that time. But I think I could move that client to a different time or day and it would be fine.

Speaking of work, I did not get that one job I interviewed about, for the very good reason that I was not qualified for it!! Lol, I needed to have had expertise in this one thing that is actually a weakness for me, so clearly, that was not a good fit. It was also not a good fit in other ways, although the stability and the income would have been nice. So I was disappointed and relieved in the same heart beat.

Yes, I could have learned the thing I wasn’t expert in, but I don’t want to. And I think it makes more sense to look for a job that will be a better fit and get back to serious work building my business.

So Christmas is coming, New Year’s is right behind it, and now is the time for family, giving and receiving, love and joy. Doesn’t matter what you celebrate, those are the most important things.