An Affection for the Darkest Days

I’ve always found it comforting that our darkest days are not our coldest. As the light dims throughout December, it begins to brighten in January. There’s something very primal and instinctual about racing across the land to gather with loved ones before the bitter cold hits. As this huge winter storm brews across most of the United States, it feels even more dynamic somehow. We can’t control the weather, although we’ve definitely contributed to its behavior. When it comes to this storm, we can only react. 

Dean and I arrived ahead of the storm. Thursday my family went out and made last minute preparations so that we can avoid going out in the cold this weekend if possible. The cupboards are stocked and the firewood piled. 

I’m thankful that Dean and I are able to work remotely so that we could leave early, travel when we wished, and work from here. I’m thankful that the cats are comfortable and welcome here and enjoy racing up and down the stairs. (They don’t have stairs at home.) I’m thankful that the members of our family are all in relatively good health and can enjoy each other’s company. No one has to be ‘looked after,’ it’s relatively stress-free, we can all pull our weight.

As usual, I write these on Thursday night after work, the storm will hit here in the early morning. From what I’ve seen on my friends’ social medias, in some places, the first snowflakes have already started to drift down. 

Something about this impending storm has me in a deeper state of gratitude. We’ll be together, we’ll be warm, with a fireplace heating the entire house, we’ll have food, we’ll have gifts to wrap and meals to cook. Even now I hear the strains of an old Christmas carol drifting in from the other room. A small tree is lit in the corner of the office. 

I know that all Yules won’t be like this. We’re mortal. We’ll get hurt, we’ll get ill, we’ll get old, we’ll die. We’ve experienced worse Decembers to be sure. But today, we drift toward the end of the year on a high note. 

One of the things I love about the season is the lights. Especially outdoor lights, but I harbor a special affection toward Christmas trees. Menorahs are fabulous creatures as well. Diwali, literally a festival of lights, comes a little earlier than the December holidays, right as the darkness starts to descend, but I like to think of it as kicking us off, as it’s literally celebrating the victory of light over darkness.

I love that we, as humans, regardless of what ritual we may or may not be observing, collectively throw up lights against the darkest time of the year. I love that we gather together as the year draws to a close and the harsh weather rumbles in. I love that we choose this time to feast, to hug, to gift, to remember, before we move on to another year that some of us may not survive. 

Thank you for swinging through and being part of my year. I wish you peace and joy as we move into the next.