Spark of the Season
It's beginning to look a lot like...Thanksgiving, although several neighbors have always began to entertain smiling snowmen on their lawns. As we continue along our rotation around the sun, the days continue to darken. It is during these months I find it vital to turn inward and rely upon my own light when I find my surroundings to be dim.
Maya Angelou said: "Nothing can dim the light that shines from within."
We all possess that spark that makes us alive and excited for the next great thing, or the great thing that is happening right now! That being said, this time of year we celebrate many bright holidays. Not all folks feel the same level of light and joy and holidays or situations that are celebrated are also commemorative of the ones not here with us physically. Historically this has been a time of the year to reflect upon gratitude, which is always a lovely practice, and it can often be the hardest time of year for some to feel authentic gratitude.
As the days not only shorten, but also grow colder, we burrow under throw blankets and cuddle up on our couches. Pillows usually reserved for decoration become instruments to build a coziness akin to the blanket forts of childhood. During this period of the year it feels essential to prioritize restorative activities that fill our cup, again and again. I invite you to give yourself permission to get into your comfiest clothes, have a cup of tea with me, and build the blanket fort that will enrich you and invigorate your spark from the outset of this holiday season. It is feels difficult to sing your heart's song right now, remember you can always choose to just light a candle from where you are and absorb the smells and sensation of what "alive" is in this moment.
As I fill my own cup (literally) with some honied oatmeal, I find myself reflecting on works by Native and Indigenous Peoples and also excited to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. I have found personally that the two must not be mutually exclusive. Although I recently reread "Pilgrims" by Julie Orringer (and highly recommend it) as well as As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, From Colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker (also highly recommend!) I would encourage you to find whatever kind of story will entice you to kick off your shoes, plop down on the couch, and pull the weighted blanket over your lap. Choose something to truly fill your cup and let that spark burn bright.
Happy holidays and happy reading!
