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Inner Peace: Soulful suggestions for the season Kate McKenzie Friday Dec 8, 2017 at 7:57 PM Dec 8, 2017 at 8:27 PM By Kate McKenzie These winter months and holidays have always been a challenge for me. I start noticing a slight dread in October that grows as November and December quickly accelerate — with the shortened days of light, the gray skies and colder temperatures, the freezing valley fog that often greets my morning eyes, and the cultural/familial holiday expectations. As a lover and explorer of the natural world, walking in wild and tame places with binoculars around my neck, I am soothed by listening, looking, feeling and being in my chosen world of OUTDOORS. The delightful warmer months, longer days, the option of flower-filled mountain hikes with migrant bird songs fill my heart and spirit with expansiveness, and I find I am imbued with outer beauty that nurtures my inner core. But how to find inner peace during this darker, colder time of year has been on ongoing puzzle for me. Adding the holidays and the inescapable frenzy of expectations and pressure, the pull to show love and appreciation by giving, and the challenge of blending current families and images of past familial experiences, I often feel overwhelmed and easily ignore my own needs. I lose my equanimity if I get caught in the whir and swirl of this outer holiday tug, when the actual seasonal draw is to be more introspective, to breathe, slow down, to stop and feel. How do I greet this time with curiosity, quiet and wonder, honoring myself so that I have the energy to give to others from a place of honesty, integrity and balance? A quote from a recent Zen calendar touched me deeply, and I have been reflecting on it when I feel stressed or a bit lost: "Your heart is the softest place on earth. Take care of it." Because of my seasonal challenges, I decided to ask friends and family how they take care of their own hearts and energies during this time of year. I want to share their responses in hopes that one might touch you as a reader and help you navigate your own soothing path as you balance self-care with your natural caring for your loved ones: • “I’m writing personal, hand-written letters to friends I want to remain in contact with. I'm choosing to focus on maintaining relationships when they can so easily slip away." • “My rituals are around my connection to nature. This season is one where there is a lot of natural darkness so that means going inward, writing cards, reading poetry, sharing a quiet meal with a friend or two, listening to music. The short, darker days lend themselves to this and I want my life to follow the seasons and the rhythms of nature." • ”It's important to me that I maintain or even expand what “works” for me during the rest of the year. I will get more regular massages during this time of year. I believe we need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. And we need touch! Receiving healing touch and going inward is a centering gift to myself." • "I put on my favorite rock and roll playlist and dance wildly!" • "I use essential oils both as mood elevators and when I need calming. I light candles each night and surround my house with strings of light." • "For me, one of the best things I do for myself is to say 'no' to some activities and invitations, even though I know I would enjoy them. I need to plan 'down time,' leaving blank spaces on my calendar and guarding them as precious." • "I focus on the beauty of winter, the bare branches I haven't seen since the summer leaves hid them, the glistening drops of water hanging on now visible plants. Mostly, I focus on love and connection." • "I have so many beautiful memories from my childhood. I find delight in the holiday music, the smell of the tree, and it carries me through what I have always felt is a magical time." I am grateful for the inspiration I found in these responses and am incorporating them into my "winter repertoire." I'd love to hear your favorite suggestions. —Kate McKenzie has survived 35 winters in Ashland. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist and has a master's degree in mental health counseling. Her email address is [email protected].