A winter solstice and year-end reflection
Today marks the shortest day and longest night of the year: the Winter Solstice—a turning point that signals the changing of seasons.
Ancient rituals honored this time as an opportunity to go inward, rest, reflect, and prepare for the return of the light.
After tonight, the days will gradually grow longer. Nature reminds us that darkness is temporary and renewal is always possible. I feel hopeful about the year ahead.
I’m ready to enter hibernation, even for a few weeks. I’ve wrapped up my projects and set my out-of-office notice.
I finally have time to journal (while listening to this Solstice-inspired playlist), wrap presents, stretch, bake cinnamon rolls with my daughter at Grandma’s house, and take walks in the woods around Lake Almanor in Northern California.
Time slows down when I take a moment to breathe, close my eyes, and take in the sweet, crisp scent of the frosty mountain air.
On my walk this afternoon, I stopped to feel my feet grounded on the soft, wet earth and let the branches of a pine tree gently brush my cheeks.
One thing I’m especially grateful for this year is deepening my mindfulness practice, interrupting my brain’s tendency to get distracted, jumping from one idea to another. A steady meditation practice of 15–20 minutes daily has been life-changing.
On days I skip my meditation and feel guilty, I remind myself that meditation begins when we step off the cushion.
I daresay meditation is like community service. Every minute we meditate helps bring a more thoughtful self forward, which benefits our kids, our parents, and our teams.
"I wanted to go on a great adventure, and I went silent." – The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
During this season, I love embracing hygge—propped on the couch with pillows, a warm blanket, and a candle lit—reflecting on these questions:
What am I grateful for this year?
What do I want to let go of?
What am I inviting in the new year?
When we pause to sit with these questions, our inner world slows, the dust of our mind settles like flakes in a snow globe, and wisdom naturally rises to the surface.
The Science of Gratitude
According to Dr. Robert Emmons, a leading expert in gratitude research, practicing gratitude not only reduces toxic emotions like envy and resentment but also rewires our brains to focus on abundance.
Gratitude strengthens our resilience and helps us see opportunities for growth, even amid challenges.
Many years ago, when I reflected on what I appreciated about my corporate research work, I realized that interviewing people in qualitative research settings and focus groups was one of the most rewarding parts.
That insight led me to coaching. For that discovery, I am endlessly grateful.
Reflections on This Year
This year, my word of the year was empowered (it even inspired the renaming of this newsletter). I worked on letting go of disempowering inner narratives and being more honest with myself about what I truly need—and don’t need—in my work and life.
I practiced staying open-minded and curious in uncomfortable situations and resisted my tendency to avoid difficult tasks, like putting my writing out there on LinkedIn or reaching out to clients for referrals.
When my business experienced its first slowdown in nine years of consistent flow this summer, I didn’t panic. Instead, I asked myself how I could solve the problem and what I was willing to do.
I joined a mastermind group, learned new marketing strategies, researched my business, updated my branding and messaging—and saw immediate improvements.
By questioning my assumptions, I discovered pockets of personal agency, found new ideas, and changed the course of my business.
Being more honest with myself also gave me the courage in my personal life to have a few difficult conversations I had avoided for years.
Every one of those difficult conversations was not as hard as I thought it would be. I’m repairing old habits of pretending to be okay when I’m not. Truth does set us free.
The more I practice mindfulness, the more I notice—and slowly release—many old self-sabotaging habits like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and, of course, avoidance.
As I did this work, I also noticed my inner critic’s judgment: Why didn’t I know this sooner? I should have done this a long time ago.
The work is to interrupt self-judgment with self-compassion: It’s fine. We are all lifelong learners. That’s what a growth mindset is all about.Gratitude, rather than judgment, has been a cornerstone of my personal journey, helping me find the gift and learning in tough times.
Honorable Closure
Recently, a mentor introduced me to the work of cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien, whose book, The Four-Fold Way, is on my January reading list.
Check out Arrien’s incredibly beautiful Ted Talk here.
As I researched Arrien, I discovered her Ritual of Honorable Closure—a meaningful way to end the year and step into the next with intention:
Acknowledge: Reflect on the gifts, lessons, and challenges of this year.
Release: Write down what you’re ready to let go of—old habits, fears, or limiting beliefs—and safely let them go.
Express Gratitude: Name the people and moments that have touched your life this year.
Set Intentions: Choose a word or phrase for the year ahead that feels like a guidepost. (Mine is ease.)
As this year comes to a close, I want to thank you—for showing up in coaching sessions and trusting me to support you on this journey.
Thank you for reminding me, through your genuine courage and growth, that it’s worth stepping out of our comfort zones and possible to shed habits that no longer serve us.
Thank you for modeling deeper strength and integrity in your relationships, teams, and communities.
Here’s to longer, brighter days ahead, and to the light returning—both in the world and within us.
With love and gratitude,
Ramona
