A moment to reflect
The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”), because at the solstices, the sun’s declination appears to “stand still”; that is, the seasonal movement of the sun’s daily path (as seen from Earth) pauses at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction.
As the solstice approaches (at 16:58 CET today, 21 December 2021) here in the south of France, I listen to the silence and reflect on the solstice as the perfect time — this standstill moment — to stand still ourselves.
It is entirely possible that the solstice will come and go and we won’t notice it, busy as we are with jobs and holiday preparations, important meetings, kids to pick up or deliver, lines to write or lives to save. It is, after all, a busy time of year.
But what would happen if we stood still a moment? If we took a deep breath and let it out again? If we took in our surroundings and our colleagues and our friends and our family members as they are and stopped trying to change them, or ourselves, for a moment?
What if we stood, at rest? We dropped our shoulders and unclenched our jaws, maybe let a smile creep onto our lips?
What if, in this moment, we saw our last year pass before us — the good, the bad, the ugly — and we appreciated for a moment that we are still standing, we’re here?
We’re here.
What if everything that has ever happened to us is over? Over.
What if, right now, in this standstill moment, we figure something out. That we already are everything we’ve always wanted, be it free, good, alive, beautiful, kind, loving or loved.
Solstice is approaching. This year I will not let it go unnoticed.
Will you?
