Today is the shortest day of the year, here in the UK, and strangely some may say, it’s my favourite day of the year. Why, I can hear you asking, isn’t the longest day of the year more favoured, all those lovely hours of daylight, and often sunshine too. Well it’s because today marks the nadir of the year in terms of daylight. From now on we get an extra minute or so more light each day, and that’s something to look forward to.
Daisaku Ikeda has some very wise words for these long dark days, and offers a welcome ray of hope …
“Even if today may seem to be a time of total darkness, it will not last forever. The dawn will surely come if you advance, ever forward, without being defeated.
The day will definitely come when you can look back fondly and declare, “I am savouring this happiness because I struggled back then.” It is those who know the bitterness of winter that can savour the true joy of spring.”
~ Daisaku Ikeda
The Search For Enlightenment 
Dec 27, 2014 @ 04:07:49
I also love the shortest day, because it means after that day we ate slowly growing to longer and longer days. It is the longest day I do not like because we then are going to shorter days.