The sun has set here in the Pacific Time Zone on the shortest northern hemisphere day of 2014.

I spent it at home, starting with an eight mile run at an even pace through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach and back with a couple of friends, then cooking and sharing brunch with them and a few more.

It was a good way to spend the minimal daylight hours we had: doing positive things, sharing genuinely with positive people who themselves shared genuinely.

Of all the choices we make day to day, I think these may be the most important we have to make:

• What we choose to do with our time
• Who we choose to spend our time with

These choices are particularly difficult because:

• So many possibilities
• So many people will tell you what you should do, and who you should spend time with; often only what they’re told, or to their advantage, not yours.
• You have to explicitly choose, or others will choose for you.

When you find those who have explicitly chosen to spend time with you, doing positive things, and who appreciate that you have explicitly chosen (instead of being pressured by obligation, guilt, entitlement etc.) to spend time with them, hug them and tell them you’re glad they are there.

I’m glad you’re here.

Happy Winter Solstice and may you spend more of your hours doing positive things, and genuinely sharing (without pressures of obligation, guilt, or entitlement) with those who similarly genuinely share with you.

Here’s to more daylight hours, both physically and metaphorically.