unapologetically me
Day 17 invites us to be who we are — fully, honestly, and unapologetically.
And today is not just any day.
Today marks the solstice — a turning point of the year.
In the Northern Hemisphere, today marks the longest night — when light appears the most diminished right before it begins its steady return. In the Southern Hemisphere, today marks the fullness of light and expansion.
Different expressions, same truth: cycles matter. And this wisdom is not bound to a single date on the calendar. Because it’s timeless. Ecclesiastical even.
Life includes seasons of contraction and expansion. Waiting and emergence. Death, burial, and resurrection. We encounter these thresholds again and again — where something old must be laid down so that something new and true can rise.
Authenticity Requires a Death First
Becoming yourself doesn’t always look like high confidence or visibility. Sometimes it looks like letting false versions of yourself die.
That’s the burial phase.
It’s quiet, hidden, and often misunderstood. Although the light appears diminished, it’s not gone. Because sacred preparation births transformation.
So be expectant because what is real takes time to emerge.
The Proper Place for an Apology
We are called to apologize when we cause harm.
Or when we miss the mark.
Because humility, accountability, and repair are required.
Unfortunately, many of us have learned to apologize for:
Our very presence.
Our voice. Our needs.
And our truth.
But who you are is never something you need to apologize for. Too often people are asked to apologize not for wrongdoing — but for being honest, different, principled, creative, sensitive, or bold.
Light Doesn’t Rush — It Returns Faithfully
Light is returning and it’s already on the way. It’s almost imperceptible at first. But it is certain. And so is your becoming.
Authenticity is not a loud performance. It’s quiet alignment, living with integrity, and refusing to contort yourself.
You may feel like parts of you are being uncovered, questioned, or undone right now. But that doesn’t mean you’re losing yourself. It means you’re returning to yourself.
Winter is honest like that.
Some parts of you are still resting.
Some parts are being released.
Other parts are just beginning to breathe again.
Like the light returns after solstice, restoration doesn’t rush.
It simply strengthens day by day.
Reflection for Today
Where have you been apologizing instead of honoring who you are?
What part of you is being restored?
What does it look like to trust the slow return of light?
Remember this:
Neither death nor burial have the final say. Happy Solstice. Resurrection is coming.
