Solstice
🌆 On consistency and capacity on the shortest day of the year
Happy Winter Solstice, friends.
When I started blogging in the early 2000s, I would sometimes post multiple times a day. When I started writing on Substack in 2023, I wrote daily to start — short little bursts after dinner — and then transitioned to writing weekly on Saturday mornings. It’s a routine I’ve largely managed to maintain for the past two years, though I have missed a few weeks here or there when life intervened.
If you’ve been with me for a while, you may recall the wheels came off last fall after some international travel and COVID. I recovered and was successful through last winter, this spring and summer.
As I added graduate school to the mix this fall (on top of family, professional and personal responsibilities), time became more scarce and my consistency suffered.
Here is a summary of my posts year-to-date by type:
I feel bad when this happens because consistency is critical. I get it. I know that some of you that are regular readers may notice when I don’t show up in your inbox. And for that, I apologize. (I also know that some of you read when you can and may not necessarily notice or mind a silent week or two).
So this is me being honest:
I enjoy writing. I do. But I’m not a professional writer. Not yet, at least.
I’m a full-time human first. And that means I am — like any of us — doing the best I can on any given day. Striving to be aware, to be present, and to make good choices. Tending to those that need our attention. And some days that has meant prioritizing attending a funeral, for example, over writing. I trust you can understand.
I’m grateful for you and your interest in what I have to share. While our community is still a fledgling one, I marvel at some of the people I’ve met on this journey — people I wouldn’t know if not for starting to write again. So thank you.
Here are two pieces I wrote last December that I am re-sharing because I think they each may speak to one of you. I re-read them both this morning and they made me smile and want to sit down and write you today, despite having a lot to do (would you believe our tree doesn’t have ornaments on it yet?).
How has your December been so far? What is one memorable moment you’ve had? Share and I may feature in a round up our next issue.
Wherever you are and whatever you do, may you have a wonderful weekend.
Be well,
-Bryce