I live in the Colorado Rockies at nearly ten thousand feet. The days grow shorter the closer to the Winter Solstice we get. It is crucial to get some sun while it is out. The sun shines for only five to six hours. Then it slides down behind the mountain ridge and darkness arrives.

This is a hard time of year for many. Many miss their loved ones who they can’t be with. Some loved ones have already left this life on earth. So it is a time of missing those, maybe even a feeling of depression takes over. It is a time to self-care. Take time to do things that help yourself.

Maybe get outside and be in nature. It has been shown to produce a sense of well being. It also produces the much needed good feelings called endorphins. Get some sunlight if possible. Eat good food, stay away from fast food which has no nutritional value but full of ultra-processed chemicals. Cooking good food is a really good way to use some of the dark hours. Simply taking time to chop vegetables and create a nice meal while listening to some music is good therapy.

Talk to a friend or family member. This social need surpasses so many other things like watching a show or doom scrolling on your phone.

Take a walk! This is not the easiest thing especially if there is snow and ice on the ground where you are. But you drive down lower to where it may be flatter and easier to traverse the path.

Listen to a podcast whilst cleaning, doing laundry or other chores. This way it fills your brain with something you find interesting, a new hobby, or unique subject or person.

Take up a new hobby, write a letter, decorate your home with greens. This gives one a sense of style and uplifting newness to the same old house. Another thing I do is create lighted spaces that are usually very dark with battery powered candles. Using extra lighting helps immensely with my mood.

I’m sure you can think of other ways to use the darkness. I am grateful for each one of you in this season of darkness. The Solstice is in a week or less and then it will start getting lighter again. It is like a slowly opening curtain. Just know you are not alone in how you feel. I feel it too.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Schöne Feiertage 🙂