Happy Winter Solstice

Today, December 21, 2022, is the winter solstice.

This is important because it marks the longest night of the year.

After tonight, the nights begin to wane. That means they get shorter.

Unlike the summer solstice, which marks the longest day of the year, there is muted celebration. Mostly because it is too cold, and dark to party.

I think that is the wrong attitude to take.

Boo-hoo, it is so dark.

Boo hoo, it is so cold.-

Boo-hoo, there are so many add-ons. Nothing to be scared of there, we in the OR world expect it. It won’t be like this forever.

Just like being afraid of Monday is the wrong attitude to take. It is less about fearing what will happen on Mondays, or the longest night of the year, and more about celebrating that Monday or the longest night of the year won’t happen for 7 or 365 days.

It is rewriting the script the allow that yes, this is the longest night of the year, BUT it won’t happen again for an entire year. Celebrate that.

It is also Saturnalia, but I won’t get into that.

Pour yourself some cocoa, add a little alcohol if that is your thing, or make yourself a hot toddy. Bundle up warm and wear extra thick socks and some slippers. It is all right that it is the longest night of the year. After all, it won’t be the longest night of the year again for an entire year.

Since much of the United States is in a deep freeze this week, remember that you should not touch bare metal with wet fingers, or your tongue. You remember that scene from the Christmas Story. Right?