Listening in the Dark

Inspiration born of a little SAD

There's a lot of pressure out there to keep it positive. Frankly I'm a little afraid if we don't allow ourselves dark times, and bits of space to be uncomfortable, we won't be able to bounce back when the other shoe actually drops.

The older I get, the harder the winter is for me to cope with. It's just too dark. And YES! I believe in all the hygge stuff (and I believe in Just Do It). But sometimes a week mostly in bed and reading and snuggling the dog is GOOD. So I indulged. Maybe wallowed. And I decided to notice it, not judge it, listen to the quiet and the dark.

It turns out that by allowing myself to stop the constant barrage of 'shoulds', and 'gotta go do' gave my brain the space it needed for some deep thinking. Processing. The just BEING lead to a spark, that has lead to productive inspiration.

And then, last Saturday, I noticed that it was just twilight at 5:30 pm. And yes, we're expecting another 1/2 foot of snow and winter isn't over yet. But I'm feeling genuinely enthusiastic and excited about the coming months. 

And Krista Tippett's quote reminds me that it's important to be present for ourselves. We need to notice the uncomfortable spaces and allow them room too.