I woke up to a sunny morning and felt cheerful, but the daylight hours felt like they ended all too soon. That got me thinking about the ancient custom of lighting candles at the winter solstice, which I’m sure must have helped our ancestors to trust that light and warmth would return to the world.

My husband came upstairs after working out on the rowing machine and went to take a shower, while chatting about various things that had happened during his workday. He said that if I thought he was talking too much, I should feel free to tell him so. I said no, it wasn’t bothering me at all. Having some cheerful conversation on a dark, cold winter night is a very good thing!

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to “give this planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.” Visit her site to find more Nurturing Thursday posts and a list of frequent contributors.