Yesterday afternoon, as the last light of the day was slipping away, Tom and I busied ourselves around the house . . . plugging in twinkle lights and starting a fire and lighting candles . . . to bring light into our indoor space for the rest of the evening.
Which got me thinking. . .
In the warmer months of the year, it’s so easy to live in the light, to be warm, to surround ourselves with color. We just go outside! Nature . . . takes care of things for us.
But, as Tom and I were demonstrating last night, we can have the light, the warmth, and the color we crave in the winter season, too. We just have to make it happen . . . for ourselves! We need to switch on the lights. Start the fire. Plug in the twinkle lights. Add the colorful throw pillows. Get out the flannel sheets. Light the candles.
In the winter, we have to take action to counter the darkness.
As you go through your day today, think about all the ways you are actively bringing light and warmth and color to your dark winter days. And then . . . shift that thinking just a little bit. Broaden it. Reflect on . . . how you can bring more light, more color, more warmth . . . into all the dark corners of your life. All year long.
Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.~ Albus Dumbledore
If you’re wondering what this “advent calendar” is all about, you can read my “intro” post here.
Yes! I think it might be the best part of the “wintering” days… creating your own cozy space! A space you curate for yourself and your loved ones. It is the best kind of “self-care” XOXO
Light is indeed a magical thing!
I love how cozy the house feels with twinkle lights and trees and our wood stove. I started decorating our bedroom for Christmas a few years ago and I love spending time in there, reading in bed, drinking coffee and just hanging out.
yes, light! I love the twinkle lights and the soft glow from a candle. also seeking out the sunshine if it makes even a short appearance! It does feel like we aren’t as colorful right now … and maybe that’s one thing Marc likes about the colored (not white) lights on the tree? It seems, too, that more folks are putting up colored lights outside.
I have undercabinet lighting in the kitchen and those bulbs glow a warm yellow. It makes the kitchen/dining area look so cozy. That’s how I bring in the light to my house. AND, I have electric candles in the front window. They look so welcoming from outside.
I’ve been trying to bring out one holiday decoration each day — today, it’s the twinkle lights and red berry twigs that go above our shelves in the family room. Because yesterday, I realized how I was craving their cheerfulness.
I’m smiling at the fire in the fireplace right now.
We eat dinner by candlelight (sometimes even in the summer!!).
It’s really the darkness that gets to me more than anything in the winter, so this is a good reminder that I should get the light I need! I think I need to get some indoor twinkle lights that we can use to spruce up the place until the sun does the job.
My living room is filled with light (twinkle and otherwise) and I will keep it up until January is over. Any day there is sun I take advantage and walk as far as I can. The sun on my face creates immediate happiness.