Greeting Winter
Abigail’s snow person greeted us at the back door. (Literally)
Snow Family
Growing Snow Family
I find it Important to remember that AS we greet Winter we must be aware that MID Winter approaches.
Here is one of my most favorite James Taylor songs:
“In the Bleak Midwinter” is a poem written by English poet, Christina Rossetti.
The poem was published under the title A Christmas Carol in the January 1872 issue of Scribner's Monthly. The poem is usually sung by a church choir, set to the music of “The English Hymnal” by Gustav Holst.
Right now we are celebrating the seasonal change with the falling of snow, and the colorful lights, not to mention the music and the food within the homes and workplace. Some of us may find ourselves fighting very hard to maintain that spirit not only for our own sake but for the sake of those we love and care for.
But as midwinter approaches, a bleakness and a sadness can take over. The colorful and celebratory lights come down, and suddenly, as if flipped by switch, the light becomes dark… and sometimes this darkness is carried into the day.
You may be wondering why I am mentioning this so early in the season, so early in the month?
As a school teacher by trade, I am accustomed to planning. If we can plan for midwinter and the bleak emotion that can attach itself to the season, then perhaps it’s possible to head it off at the pass; to greet it by force and our heartfelt intention.
Perhaps we can even overcome it before it overcomes us.
What can help is sustaining a mindfulness practice. Your Yoga for Wellness can embolden you to meet your solstice of change not by falling into sadness or despair but through greeting the future full-heartedly.
Descending the climb, I must trust the rope, the people, the ice. Each step is made with intention.
I’d like to end this newsletter honoring a man of great heart and intention. In Richmond Virginia, Frank Hudak is called Mr. Christmas.
He’s 80 years old and has been entertaining people on the street for four generations. He says that now that he is older, when he’s crawling around, setting up decorations, he begins to hurt in places he didn’t know he owned. How he entertains is by using his creativity with lights, cheesy construction, and stars.
But what people see is not necessarily the sappiness or his lack of finesse. What they see and feel is the lightness of the season. He brings back childhood and warm feelings of love,family and community. People come from all over to see him Including people from 38 states and 16 countries. He reminds people of the light that they still are, no matter how upsetting the political or local climate can be.. He alters our emotion by reminding us of our innocence, and evokes a time when everything around us appeared magical.
He’s passing the baton this year. He says he’s a little too scared to climb the ladder so his neighbor has offered to take on the lighting decoration in their little town within their shared cul-de-sac. .
But there’s more to Frank Hudak than just decorations. People donate money to see his magical creations. . Currently, he’s donated more than $175,000 to the Richmond Virginia Home for Boys and Girls and it’s still early in the season.
Frank Hudak demonstrates greeting the season of solstice with big intention, mindfulness and heartfelt love to his community that can shine a light in the darkness of midwinter.
Please take note of the links shared so you too can enjoy his little town, his little offering and his abundant joy.
https://www.wtvr.com/i-have-a-story/mr-christmas-unplug-december-2-2022?_amp=true
