"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

Anne Dudley Bradstreet (1612-72) English-born Colonial poet

My diary says that today is the Winter Solstice, the official first day of winter and the shortest day of the year! In the northern hemisphere, the Winter solstice is day of the year when the Sun is farthest south. However, in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer solstices are exchanged, so that the winter solstice is the day on which the Sun is farthest north. (So this may not apply to you!) For many people the Winter Solstice is heralded as a turning point, and as a reminder that in order for a new path to begin, the old one must end and that spring will come again. In many societies and religions, this turning point is celebrated with feasting and flames which light up the dark winter nights. It is a time of celebration for what has gone before and a time to look to the future.

Today I am keen to review and reflect on everything that has taken place since the last Winter Solstice. I have had an incredible year, both personally, as well as professionally, and I can look back at even my most testing times and feel satisfied that I have managed to get something from each situation. Sometimes it seemed like I was going backwards, but taking everything into consideration, I can see I have moved forward greatly. I haven