Traveling in countries close to the equator, I’ve had to get used to not having sunshine past 6:30pm, even in the summer. The year I lived in Yellowknife, late June-July, I kept forgetting to go to bed because the sun was mostly up all the time. But most of my life I’ve spent mid-way. In the summer, evenings are long and bright. In the winter, the sun disappears in the afternoon. Living mid-way, changes in sun light punctuate the seasons.
As I’ve gotten older, I find myself really looking forward to the sparkle of holiday lights in December. They break into the growing darkness with a reminder that the year is turning as it ought to. Its no wonder that everywhere around the world people celebrate the solstice. In winter we sing and make noise to drive the darkness away. In summer we sing and dance to celebrate the light. So my holidays now are a mix of various places and people —all of us looking for light.
May you find what you need to drive the darkness away this year.