“Even as a child, she had preferred night to day, had enjoyed sitting out in the yard after sunset, under the star-speckled sky listening to frogs and crickets. Darkness soothed. It softened the sharp edges of the world, toned down the too-harsh colors. With the coming of twilight, the sky seemed to recede; the universe expanded. The night was bigger than the day, and in its realm, life seemed to have more possibilities.” ― Dean Koontz, Midnight
during the month of november the darkness grows even more. it takes over. the grayness engulfs every day. the sun stays hidden behind the clouds. and it feels like the cold, damp weather will never end. energy & motivation are hard to come by.
still, there is something about the swedish darkness i find comforting. the cold, gray days turn into dark, warm nights. and even though the sun sets and the darkness arrives earlier and earlier right now, something about november feels cozy.
i find myself having this nesting feeling during november. wanting to be home. light candles. play music. watch movies. snuggle under blankets. write.
yes, the darkness can be depressing. it can feel like too much some days. i can find myself longing for sunshine & warmth. but, then i remember, that it will come. the light will return. spring will arrive again. but, for now, the darkness has settled in. and, nature reminds me of one more lesson in life… to embrace the day. to live in the present. to find the beauty. to seek peace.
tonight my love has been the queen of coziness. first, she lit candles all over the kitchen for dinner. then, as i washed the dishes, she lit the living room up with tons of candles… soft, flickering lights everywhere. and now, it’s late, and we’re snuggled under the covers catching up on some “true blood”, with more candles and cozy lights.
yep. learning to live in the moment. to truly be present. that’s a lifelong lesson, one that i will never get right, but one that i will work on day after day, night after night.
hope you have a cozy november night, my dear friends.
