You have two options: fight it or join it. The people who fight it are the ones posting sunrise photos at 8 AM on Instagram, pretending they’re fine. The rest of us? We lean in. We make hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. We watch a cheesy Christmas movie for the tenth time. We actually notice the strange beauty of a 4 PM dusk, where the stars come out while you’re still making dinner.
The shortest day of the year is descending on the Northern Hemisphere
I tried to go for a walk at noon yesterday, and the sun was so low it was like staring into a dusty flashlight. My shadow was ten feet long. You can’t even pretend it’s a normal day. So don’t. Embrace the weirdness. Tell your coworkers, “Happy Solstice,” and watch them blink at you like you’re a Druid. It’s fun, trust me.
Also, practical tip: this is the best day to check your car’s batteries and buy a good lamp for seasonal gloom. Because while the solstice promises light, it takes its sweet time delivering. We’re still looking at weeks of short days ahead. But the trajectory has shifted. We’re now marching—slowly, grumpily—toward spring.
A final thought before you go
So here’s my challenge to you: pause at 3:58 PM today (sunset time in London). Look out the window. Notice the orange glow on the horizon, the way the bare trees look like black lace. Then remember: this is the last time the sun will set this early for a whole year. That’s kind of magical, right?
Or, you know, just put on a jumper, pour a glass of wine, and wait for the days to get longer. Either way, you’re doing it right. Because the shortest day isn’t about being miserable—it’s about knowing that even the darkest days have a limit. And then they get brighter. Happy Solstice, you beautiful, vitamin-D-deficient souls.
