Darker days

I remember walking through town the other day and finally seeing something that made my stomach sink. The sight of a Christmas themed German market stall might excite some, but it doesn’t excite me. I understand that Christmas might be for the younger children who still see the world with wonderful eyes, but I get frustrated by this season for different reasons.

I get frustrated by this false veneer of presents, family and food. Along with my own personal struggles of friends passing at this time of year, it makes me want to hibernate and contemplate way more than anything else. I suspect the nature of consumption is probably an unconscious effort to avoid the difficult reflection aspect of this time of year.

However, I always seem to walk through the dark rather than avoid it. Not that I haven’t tried to avoid it myself, but it bites back a lot worse if you can’t get through it. Its ugly, painful and tough but it always leaves so much space for growth afterwards. Its the foul tasting medicine that no one wants to take.

‘Well what’s your point?’ I hear you say. The point is maybe we should spend more time reflecting and less time consuming. Use that kitchen table to talk more when it hurts the most. I’m not the most social or capable human being, but when I open that space for a client, it can bring out all sorts of positive and negative things.

Regrets, frustrations, parts of pain from however long I spoke to them last. I may not be a therapist, but I am here to direct that energy from the now and where the client want to go next. Part of that is instilling belief and honesty, another part is sometimes letting silence sit a bit, another is listening intently while the client tells me more.

In conclusion, I want Mid-Winter to be more about the internal than the external and using these darker days to grow deeper, rather than like Christmas decorations put them away once we’re in January.

Until next time, #embraceinfinity