Reflections on Solstice
As the holidays approach, I've been doing a lot of thinking.
I like Christmas as much as the next person, but I'll be celebrating Solstice this year. Truly celebrating it. December 22 is the longest night of the year-- the darkest point. I'll be reflecting on that darkness and what we've collectively gone through this year.
2011 has been bipolar, at best.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/2011-the-year-in-photos-part-1-of-3/100203/
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/2011-the-year-in-photos-part-2-of-3/100204/
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/2011-the-year-in-photos-part-3-of-3/100205/
Sitting at my desk in my quiet kitchen while the rest of my family sleeps, I looked at these photos and just cried. Humanity, we've survived a bitch of a year. A very dark time which some argue is the start of the end of days.
Though typically a raging cynic, I can understand why they feel that way. In 2011, shit got real. In a lot of terrible ways. So much pain, hate, blood, and death. And in the thick of things, it's easy for me to start doubting that there will be a functional society for my children to inherit. I'm terrified for them. But then I make myself step outside of the scary stuff and look at the big picture.
When I consider it all as a whole, I have a little more hope. I truly do believe that humanity is lighting her collective torches and standing bravely against the darkness. Because for every moment of strife and difficulty displayed in those photos and in everyday life all around, there was a moment of grace from fellow man. Hands reached out to help where they could. People fought to remove dictators from power. Man fought together against mother nature's wrath. People came together.
Out of the darkness, there will be light. And I'm going to celebrate that.
Happy Solstice, all. You will all be in my thoughts on Thursday. We will all be in my thoughts.
Here's to a return of the light.
I like Christmas as much as the next person, but I'll be celebrating Solstice this year. Truly celebrating it. December 22 is the longest night of the year-- the darkest point. I'll be reflecting on that darkness and what we've collectively gone through this year.
2011 has been bipolar, at best.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/2011-the-year-in-photos-part-1-of-3/100203/
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/2011-the-year-in-photos-part-2-of-3/100204/
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/2011-the-year-in-photos-part-3-of-3/100205/
Sitting at my desk in my quiet kitchen while the rest of my family sleeps, I looked at these photos and just cried. Humanity, we've survived a bitch of a year. A very dark time which some argue is the start of the end of days.
Though typically a raging cynic, I can understand why they feel that way. In 2011, shit got real. In a lot of terrible ways. So much pain, hate, blood, and death. And in the thick of things, it's easy for me to start doubting that there will be a functional society for my children to inherit. I'm terrified for them. But then I make myself step outside of the scary stuff and look at the big picture.
When I consider it all as a whole, I have a little more hope. I truly do believe that humanity is lighting her collective torches and standing bravely against the darkness. Because for every moment of strife and difficulty displayed in those photos and in everyday life all around, there was a moment of grace from fellow man. Hands reached out to help where they could. People fought to remove dictators from power. Man fought together against mother nature's wrath. People came together.
Out of the darkness, there will be light. And I'm going to celebrate that.
Happy Solstice, all. You will all be in my thoughts on Thursday. We will all be in my thoughts.
Here's to a return of the light.