Longer Days Ahead and 2024 in Review

The sun sets at 4:21 PM for the next three days. From there, we add a minute of daylight to each day—maybe we can call that hope? There's something deeply restorative about this time of year, and it's not just the twinkly holiday lights and delightful meals with friends. It’s the invitation from nature to turn inward. The shorter days invite us to slow down, check in with ourselves, and be honest about our needs, emotions, and experiences.

Just as the Earth rests in preparation for new growth, we, too, need time to restore and regenerate. There's so much pressure to always be on, but growth can bloom out of seasons of rest, reflection, and inner work. In the therapeutic space, we know that healing doesn't always happen in the light of action—it often happens in the silence of introspection when we allow ourselves to sit with discomfort and listen to what our hearts and minds are telling us.

The Winter Solstice invites us to lean into this time of inner quiet. It's an invitation to sit with our emotions, reflect on what's working in our lives and what isn't, and consider what we need to let go of to move forward with intention and clarity.

As part of this reflection, I'm reminded of the many ways AACG has evolved in 2024. This year, our staff has held over 17,000 therapy sessions. We've brought on six new clinicians, completed countless trainings, staff members have gotten married, had babies, become pregnant, and launched their own private practices. It has been an amazing year!

As you settle into the expectations of the holiday season, give yourself permission to turn inward, just as nature does. There's no pressure to bloom or shine - you're allowed to be, and maybe that's the best you can do right now. Longer, brighter days are on the horizon.