Celebrating Winter Solstice

7 mornings: Writing into the darkness

This week, in preparation for my favourite winter holiday, I’ve been counting down the days until the Winter Solstice. I love the idea of the days getting longer. I’m less keen on the days getting shorter.

So today I say Happy Winter Solstice to everyone in the Northern hemisphere. And I’m thinking of others in the Southern Hemisphere who are celebrating their longest day. I’m imagining a life where I just move back and forth, every year, between hemispheres, in an eternal loop of summer solstices. Just a thought.

This week’s Jumble of Sea Glass is a real JUMBLE; random thoughts collected each dark morning.

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Writing into the darkness

I’ve embarked on seven days of writing towards Winter Solstice. Seven days of writing into the darkness, and then I will turn the corner towards the light.

This writing exercise follows roughly two months of morning writing based on Beth Kempton’s books Kokoro and Wabi Sabi. I enjoyed the practice, and now I’m giving myself daily writing prompts based on this focus on the dark days surrounding Winter Solstice.

I have written by hand in my journal each morning, and I have posted each morning’s writing exactly as they have flowed from my pen. No overthinking.

So here’s my first 7 days of thoughts; writing into the darkness. Now we turn towards the light.

December 15 2025

I begin counting down the days to the shortest day of the year only a few days after the Fall equinox, not in anticipation of winter but because I become focused on returning to the light. I know that isn’t the best attitude.

I also embrace fairy lights, and gentle pools of light, and candles. My ‘christmas’ tree is really just an excuse to shower a large dark object with tiny white lights. First thing in the morning, I plug in all the ‘christmas’ lights as a way of warding off darkness.

But I also want this to be a time of celebration and reflection. A time of comfort and hibernation.

Each year it is actually my choice where I spend this time of year. I could go way south in search of the longer days of the Southern hemisphere’s summer. I could go to the Caribbean’s warmth. But this year, and most years, I spend December in this place of shortened days.

But I also spent years of my childhood in the Northwest Territories, where December meant true near darkness. Every day we took full advantage of those few daylight hours, at mid-day.

So today, I’ll focus on what I love and enjoy about this time of year. Sure, the sun falls behind the mountains before 4 PM, but it is also 8 C right now (that’s warm for Canadian winter). And after a light rain, we are promised sun, even if only at the end of our short day. I’ll be sure to be out there, enjoying. It’s my choice.

December 16 2025

This morning I woke up too early. I woke up to full darkness, at least an hour before it was really reasonable to rise. I have to ask myself why.

For at least a decade, I have struggled to get enough sleep. Rising before dawn, living in that darkness, has almost become part of my personality. I’m the one creeping about while the household sleeps. I’m the one who, in summer, has been out for a paddle on the lake before anyone else is out of bed.

But for the last 6 months I’ve been doing everything humanly possible to address my sleep issues. I’m sleeping better than I have for years.

While I’ve gained sleep, and the health and clarity that comes from better sleep, I’ve lost those early morning hours.

I’ve lost those winter morning hours of darkness, where I write quietly in my cosy den. I’ve missed waiting for sunrise. I’ve slept through the opportunity to turn on my fairy lights in the darkness.

But not this morning. I now actually enjoy the occasional early morning – the creeping light, the quiet, the birth of a new day.

I woke to darkness. I lit the Christmas tree, one special light in the entranceway, my candles on my desk. And I began to write.

I am writing into the darkness – the beginning of possibility, the beauty of calm, the start of another day.

December 17 2025

Introspection. And the time and space, and also comfort, to really think.

To look inside.

I continue to struggle with the concept that I can just do what I want. That my life can actually be about pursuing my own goals, taking care of myself.

I don’t actually think of myself as an overly giving person. I’m pretty self-contained, and even solitary. But to fully flip the switch to thinking of my life as my own, for my own use, is strangely difficult.

2026 will be the year that I fully embrace my own desires, setting aside the artificial restraints I’ve held on to.

I’ll still be a wife, mother and daughter. But I’ll also just be me.

It’s funny - I’ve thought for years that I have a responsibility in my family to be the one who is always thinking of them. Making choices based on what I think they need or want, even if it contradicts what I need or want.

Do I expect the inverse? Do I expect my family members to make choices based on what they think I need or want? Absolutely not! I want them all to pursue the life they want to live.

I would be offended if I thought, for example, that the kids I raised were living a lesser life to cater to me!

I’m teaching myself this principle over and over.

Live the life I want. Stop making excuses. Start now.

December 18 2025

This morning it seems that this time of darkness is actually a time of preparation. Of planning. Maybe even of plotting

As we get closer to the time of turning toward the light, I can feel myself putting pieces of the puzzle into place. A picture is becoming clearer.

I can see where I am headed. The how and why of things is revealing itself.

These last few days will be a time of restoration and even rehabilitation.

Settling my mind. Supporting my body. Nourishing my soul.

December 19 2025

As I count down the days until the turning toward the light I feel excitement, but also it is a reminder that there are things I must do now. No more procrastination.

Taking care of things in this season facilitates the enjoyment of the next seasons. And I am determined to get the most out of my coming seasons.

Fall 2025 has been a time of dreaming, deciding, and determining. But it has also been a time of getting things done – a few things, even, that have been haunting me, and holding me back, for too long. It actually wasn’t that difficult in the end.

Is there a lesson there? Of course! One that life has tried to teach me for 58 years. I am a slow learner.

But I continue to strive.

December 20 2025

Today, in celebration of Midwinter’s Eve, I will read the opening pages of The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.

This is an annual tradition for many readers. I imagine most of those readers are regular fantasy readers. Or they loved the book from their childhood – it is a book for 8 - 12 year olds. I do not fit either category. But I do enjoy a planned and paced read. Or at least I like the concept. I do love the idea of starting something on a planned or significant day.

For example, for years I’ve started a new knitting project on Winter Solstice – something completely self-indulgent. I think I might do that again this year. If you are a knitter, and you are curious, I’ll give you my Ravelry name so you can look it up.

Maybe it’s the start dates I love. I’m looking forward to my first group writing activity. I’ve signed up for Beth Kempton’s Winter Writing Sanctuary which occurs between December 29th and January 4th. I love the idea of a daily practice along with others around the world – from the comfort and privacy of my own home.

I also love a list, particularly working and thinking my way through a list of concepts.

For example, I recently wrote daily about each of these words, which I’d chosen for myself about how I wanted to live my life: curiosity, awareness, creativity, resilience, strength, openness, adventure and honesty.

I am also considering joining Beth Silvers in her study in 2026 about the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I know I’m looking like a bit of a joiner. I’m actually not. But I do love planned exploration as something to look forward to during darker times.

How about you?

Winter Solstice: December 21 2025

We turn toward the light

For me, this is the start of the new year – although I am a starter, so I am always looking for reasons and opportunities to start things.

So maybe today is one of the 3 starting points of the year – New years Day, the beginning of September (the start of the school year), and Winter Solstice.

Although, I’ve also been known to start things on Summer Solstice, or on the equinox. Or Monday. Or the first of the month.

I might have a ‘starting’ addiction.

As long as the beginnings bring positive things to my life and as long as I am growing and improving, I think this fascination with new is serving me well.

I’ve also written often about the joy of anticipation, the lead up to the start. So this construct works very well for me. I might as well embrace it.

Is there anyone else out there that views Winter Solstice as a beginning? What are you adding to your life today?

Happy Winter Solstice everyone! I wish you the very best in this NEW year.

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Here are some beautiful things I’ve found on Substack this week.

I hope you found something of interest in this JUMBLE of Sea Glass.

Thanks for spending some time here.

~ JL

In my mind, sea glass is a pretty good metaphor for lessons learned through hardship, beauty that comes from brokenness, and the weathering that allows us to be our best selves.