I started writing this on Dec. 21, the happiest day of the year. It is the sun’s birthday! Beginning that day, every year, the daylight gets longer and longer each day in my hemisphere.
I say “sorry” to my Australian friends, because their daylight gets shorter and shorter. But on June 21 things will turn around again.
This is all because the earth is tilted in relation to the sun. The poles are not straight up and down in our yearly journey around the sun.
This situation always brings hope: things are getting brighter and brighter — or will eventually! At least that is the connection the solstice makes to my spirit.
A second connection that occurred to me is that what we call the first day of winter is in reality the beginning of the new year, New Year’s Day.
It’s simply that our calendars are off about 10 days. But why quibble?
A third connection, give or take four days, is what we call Christmas — Dec. 25. It is the celebration of the birth date of some of the world’s greatest gods: Jesus, Mithra and, as claimed by author Dan Brown, Osiris, Adonis and Dionysus.
These new beginnings link to the fourth connection: ’Tis the season for new year’s resolutions!
Cleaning up the past and resolving for the future are even connected to Christmas customs: “You better watch out … Santa Claus is coming to town!”
Did you get coal or rewards this year? Better luck next year!
Concerning new year’s resolutions, I taught time management seminars for more than 40 years. Early on, I invited my good friend, Charlie, to one of my workshops.
He summarized my message in three simple steps:
- Write it down.
- Don’t be a crybaby.
- Do it!
’Tis the season! Happy coming of the light, our own light, our rebirth, our new year!