The winter solstice is upon us — Sunday, December 22. This
On the winter solstice — the day the sun stands still — BSF's Kathryn Leigh Goetz reflects on what it means to turn inward, find stillness, and hold onto faith in the light that's always returning, even in the darkest season.

If you are eagerly looking forward to gathering with family and friends for the upcoming holidays, snuggling around the fireplace with cups of eggnog or hot chocolate, baking cookies (or frying latkes) with your kids, nieces and nephews, or basking in the love and light of the season, this blog is not for you.

What Di discovered about giving is that it’s so much more than a good feeling; giving is an act of service, a way of uplifting humanity. Giving requires that we open our heart and be willing to share from a place of vulnerability because we see a need in others that is a reflection of our own self. Giving is also a powerful way to support the people and causes we believe in and to assist them in advancing their hopes and dreams.

Summer is fertile ground for growth, and not just in the garden. A practical and warm walk through all six Journey to Vitality domains with ideas the whole family can try together — from family affirmation boards to date nights with your kids to just stepping outside and looking up.

Be Strong Families staff has been on a 6-month long self-care journey sharing our reflections, and commitments related to improving our personal vitality. Our Journey to Vitality work-site wellness program, which addresses 7 domains of vitality (Physical, Spiritual, Environmental, Financial, Emotional/Mental and Social), has been a great way to get to know and support one another and to practice a wide-range of self-care habits to boost our overall well-being.

Physical Vitality is the health and well-being of your body. It’s the Vitality Domain that focuses on how you want your body to look and feel. It also addresses your attitudes and habits regarding nutrition, exercise, sleep and mindfulness. What really motivates us to take care of our bodies physically? What tips or tools assist us with staying fit? And how have our bodies changed over time?

We are in a time of collective movement around the lifting of veils and the illumination of shadows. You would have to be trying very hard to remain ignorant to the emergence of these stories that were once silenced coming into voice. It is a strong, potent, rattling, traumatizing event that is still in its beginning stages as we have so many stories to hear, so much untold that deserves Truth and Reconciliation.

What happens when a family-strengthening organization turns its own wellness framework on itself? Be Strong Families first piloted the Journey to Vitality Workplace Wellness Program in-house, applying the six Vitality Domains to build a healthier organizational culture from the inside out.

Nadia Washington was wearing a superwoman cape and a mask, but underneath, felt like she was falling apart. Her honest reflection on grief, the Protective Factors, and her journey to vitality is a testament to the power of safe spaces and authentic connection.