A Winter Solstice Change
Happy Winter Solstice!
I hope you and yours are soon to enjoy some rest and the joy of the season. Here in Halifax, a blanket of snow has covered the trees and ground like a Hallmark movie. It’s magical!
Yesterday evening I had a magical moment of my own. I had about seven inches cut off of my dark blonde hair! It’s now chin length in the most perfect slightly-asymmetrical bob.
The past few weeks have been challenging. Luka went back to daycare, then contracted pneumonia. His sleep (and mine) has suffered as a result, meaning a rollercoaster of emotions.
The hard nights of motherhood have made me reach down deep into my stores of resilience, patience and strength. With that, I started to feel out of step with the pastels and princess locks I usually sport. Not to say that those colours can’t convey strength, but I’m in my scrappy era, and I want my outer appearance to reflect that.
It’s something that Stasia Savasuk calls “inside-out congruency”, and it’s an idea I have loved for years. In my deepest self right now, past the fatigue and the mom guilt and feelings of failure, I know that I am wise, brave, compassionate, decisive, funny and not afraid of conflict or a challenge.
In my clothes, right now that looks like stompy Doc Martens or Blundstones, layered dresses over tees, jeans and a tucked-in dark merino wool top, cozy sweaters and my new 90s-inspired haircut.
I’m not sure this style phase is forever - though I’ve kind of always been drawn to 90s styles - but that’s the nature of our creative expression. It should flow from our life experiences.
This Christmas season, I encourage you to listen to that inner voice of change. Whether it’s as simple as a haircut, or as big as a move (like to Halifax!), that little voice is powerful, and can lead to some amazing things.