Creating your own meaningful traditions and celebrations of Winter solstice helps us cultivate deeper connections — connections to nature, to family and friends, to all the things that matter most to us. It becomes a time to feed our spirits and nurture our souls, a much needed break from the frantic preparations we take on during this time of year. 

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the habit of gratitude, fostering within them with the ability to raise forth positive emotions in their own lives.
Practicing gratitude as a family not only instills children with a lifelong ability to evoke positive emotions, but it also builds deeper family bonds. We build family connections through hiking, but one of my favorite ways to teach gratitude along the way is by taking a gratitude walk.