I used to hate winter, the bitter cold, the long stretches of darkness..

…but over the years I’ve really come to appreciate the slowness of it, and recognize the perks of winter.

The fun, beautiful summer comes with its own inherent hectic-ness, a time that’s almost too busy, too fast, too full to be able to sit back and evaluate life and process the experiences. It’s the space, darkness, and slow pace that I have really come to love about winter. It’s a perfect time to take a step back and reflect on the year, to process the experiences, integrate the lessons, and lay the groundwork for what I want to cultivate in the year ahead. This time of retreat is a very important part of the cycle of life. I love embracing the introspective aspects of this season with a variety of creative, therapeutic, and somatic/expressive practices that unlock a deeper, fuller experience of life.

How can you build a satisfying life if you don’t take the time to step back and reexamine things; to check in with what it is you want to create, and what no longer works for you?

Granted, these are all great things to do throughout the year, but winter is the perfect time to really dive deep. Let me know in the comments some of your favorite ways to engage in this process of reflecting, integrating, and defining the directions to focus your energy, I’d love to hear about it!