The end of the year has a way of asking us to slow down, whether we listen or not. The days are shorter, the light is softer, and the body naturally wants more rest. When we allow ourselves to follow that pull instead of resisting it, something important happens: healing begins quietly in the background.
Over the past few days, I’ve been resting more than usual. Not pushing. Not fixing. Just letting the nervous system settle. At first, I felt guilt, but then I realized that I would get sick if I resisted. Now, looking back, it was preparation. In traditional seasonal wisdom, winter is not about productivity but conservation—protecting the deeper reserves so there is something real to draw from when spring arrives.
Healing doesn’t always look dramatic. Often it’s subtle: better sleep, steadier breathing, fewer unnecessary reactions. It’s the body regaining trust in itself. This kind of restoration creates clarity, not through effort, but through stillness.
As the new year approaches, I’m less interested in resolutions and more interested in readiness. Readiness comes from being well-resourced—physically, emotionally, and mentally. When we take the time to restore what’s been depleted, we enter the next cycle with integrity rather than urgency.
In Chinese Qi Gong, there are five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, each with a corresponding season and emotion. Knowing these has helped me adapt to the changing weather. Sometimes I forget to do it, or a season tricks me with unseasonable weather. This is what happened this winter solstice. It has been hot, and I forgot to rest. I pushed it hard with lots of hikes, then my body spoke, and I listened and restfully carved the bear in the picture, in between naps.
Winter reminds us that growth begins underground. What we nourish now determines what we can sustain later.
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