How to Navigate the Darkness Ahead
by Jaime Castle, HUUC Board President
Perhaps for some of you, this is your favorite time of the year. However, for perhaps the majority of us, we are dreading the oncoming shorter days and the colder months. Via this column, I’m here to offer some suggestions on how to navigate the darkness ahead.
It feels like we are back in the same place, but somehow this time around it feels a bit different. We made it through before and I’m hopeful we will get through it again. The wheel of time, in time, will bring brighter days! Yet, brighter days are some time away. So, should we bury our heads, hoard up goods, and hibernate until it is safe to come out? For some of us, yes, and that’s ok. However, if you’re up to it, I’d like to offer other suggestions.
This would be a fantastic time to focus on your health! Do the things that you’ve been thinking about doing: eating better, being more physically active, focusing on your mental health wellness, join a gym, punch things. Or, do some yoga, mentally and spiritually find Zen, or imagine punching things. Whichever! Be very selfishly in-tune to what you need to feel your best. It is not a selfish thing, because how can you be any good to others if you aren’t at your best?
Take this time and give it to things and people in your life that bring you joy. Spend more time with those who mean the most to you. Learn something new, read, weed your lawn, create, grow. Take a friend to lunch, play with your animal friends, adopt an animal friend, bake, write, paint, travel.
Make new friends and connect with others. This may be a good time to reach out to others, or to join causes and organizations that could use your time and talents. There are so many causes worthy of your giving. Finding community at this time might just be the ticket!
Clean house! Now would be a great time to clean out anything (or anyone) that does not serve its purpose anymore or is cluttering up your space. Make the place that you call home a sanctuary. Surround yourself with good energy and people. Add some houseplants. Make sure to water them.
It’s going to be a long winter, friends. Do what is right for you to make it to the other side and find the simple and profound joys despite the darkness. Nights give way to daybreak and winters give way to spring. Heritage will be here for you through it all!
Image caption: Jaime Castle with her newly adopted shelter cat Ruby
Image source: Jaime Castle