The Winter solstice is a day many people barely notice, even though it marks a profound turning point in the natural world.

Most people don’t notice the solstice.
They rush straight into the holidays.
Lists, presents, obligations, busyness.
As if moving faster will somehow protect us from the dark.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
And for some of you reading this in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, it’s the longest, light-filled day.

Either way, the solstice marks a pause.
A moment when the earth shifts direction.

Resisting the dark

I've always hated winter and the cold. 

I especially detest the dark. I want sunshine and light. And I fully admit that I feel the pull to be busy and to keep doing, doing. 

I think we resist winter because it slows us down.
Most of us don’t want to slow down. We want light. Momentum. Forward motion.

Especially women who have spent their lives holding everything together.

But real...

 What if the moments that shape our families are not the big, orchestrated ones at all, but the small, imperfect, wildly joyful ones that happen on an ordinary Saturday night? What if connection is possible even when you live oceans apart?

This is the story of how a simple idea during a hard year turned into one of the sweetest traditions of my life.

Gran’s Zoom Christmas Party: The Tradition I Never Expected to Love

It was dark outside and the tiny white lights around my window made everything feel twinkly and magical. I sat down for our 6th annual Gran’s Zoom Christmas Party just before we started, and I found myself drifting back to where it all started in 2020. The year everything felt upside down.

The grans were so little then.
The Vanuatu crew, Ella, Katie, and Rob, were just 6, 5, and 4, squeezed into toddler-sized chairs and sharing one Zoom square. Avery and Andy in Davis were 7 and 5. We were happy not to have to wear masks and be distanced, trying to make the holidays fe...

As the winter solstice unfolds its quiet magic today, I find myself reflecting on the significance of this day. It's a gentle reminder to pause before we dive headlong into the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

On this serene solstice morning, I'm reaching out to you with an invitation—to join me in taking a moment to simply be.

I understand the pull to rush around, ticking off tasks for Christmas preparations—shopping, baking, gift wrapping—all vying for our attention. Yet, today is not about succumbing to that pressure; rather, it's an opportunity to resist the urge to hurry.

You might be thinking

"Darkness isn't my favorite time of the year, and Christmas is always challenging." It's true, this season can be difficult, filled with loss and grief. The darkness outside often mirrors the struggles within, making it harder to find motivation and to rise above sadness and depression.

However, even in the heart of this darkness, there lies a purpose—a chance to embrace rather than resi...

The season of giving can be riddled with challenges, inducing guilt and stress. What should be a joyous act of giving and generosity can quickly become a daunting task, a persistent concern about selecting the "perfect gift" for someone.

Let's get real for a second: overconsumption is no joke. Most of us are drowning in stuff already, and the last thing we need is more clutter. We're also well aware that our binge-buying habits do no favors for Mother Earth. We're on a mission it seems to pack landfills to the brim with even more junk. 

And, the prices of everything have risen so who wants to go into debt by overspending?

Yet, amid these challenges, the expectation to exchange gifts persists. It's not a matter of reluctance; it's a question of redefining HOW we approach it.

What if gift-giving could be simple, easy, meaningful, and green?

What if we lived in a world where decisions about gift-giving were effortless, gifts were beautifully wrapped, and every gesture bore the war...