Winter solstice began at 2:02 a.m. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky.
From this point on, the days will be getting longer. Symbolizing hope, change, and a path forward from 2020.
The Great Conjunction
Weather permitting, go outside an hour after sunset (5:30) and enjoy the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Look toward the Southwestern sky.
Getting On
Winter, the holidays, the pandemic… Maintaining hopefulness is more challenging than ever. We know the vaccines are coming, but they aren’t an instant cure-all. What can we do at home, in our personal lives, to boost our well being?
Meet new people. Download NextDoor, a free, private social networking app for neighbors. Introduce yourself and reach out to others with the same interests. Find things to buy or sell. Get suggestions on local businesses or to-go food from neighborhood restaurants.
Plan a day trip. Make a lunch, gas up the car, and drive. We’ve all been cooped up and each of us is over it. But no matter where you live – especially in our state – there’s a great place to visit within a one or two hour drive. Why not hop in the car and go? Mask up if necessary and shy away from crowds.
Find a new do-at-home activity. Etsy is a great place to buy inexpensive DIY craft kits. Go beyond your comfort zone. Revisit a lost or neglected skill or try something new. Have fun. It doesn’t matter whether it “turns out” or not.
Do something to brighten someone’s day. If you’re of a mind, Pay It Forward the next time you’re in line for coffee or make a neighbor smile. Cut sprigs of greenery, tie up with ribbon, yarn, or twine, make a loop, then hang on front doors. Herbs like Rosemary or small branches from evergreens work well for this.
Thank people you appreciate – nonprofits, colleagues, grocery clerks. Say it, send it, make a day of it. Criticizing is easy. I do it too. But don’t forget appreciation.
COVID, wildfires, court operations, and closures dominated headlines and our lives. So did the tech world, the hard work of staying productive, and not letting the stress of it all get to us.
Hopefully you found some useful posts in 2020. If you’ve been battling procrastination, there is help. If you need to jump start your marketing, I did a four part series in July. If collecting fees has been … challenging … I have a few suggestions. Here’s a recap of substantive topics covered in the past twelve months. And here’s to 2021!
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