Letter from the Editor
photo by Danny Giebe for Unsplash
About five years ago, my partner of 31 years and I started a nightly routine. It’s super simple but we both agree it’s led to a level of intimacy that surprised us, even after decades together. It’s a nightly walk.
That’s it. A stroll in the dark. I told you it was super simple.
We talk about our work, creative projects, relationships, what’s bugging us, aha’s, and what we should watch on tv (sorry—streamers—I’m still having a hard time saying that) after our walk. The last one takes up a good bit of time. Thank goodness for Julia Washington’s movie recommendations (Fall Comfort Movies We Love).
There’s something about the darkness that gives us an appreciation for our day. Things we’ve been carrying around—sometimes for years—surface at night, giving us a new perspective on them and, oftentimes, helping us let them go. Past challenges, hurts, confusion all look different in the moonlight. They seem softer.
This issue is dedicated to celebrating what this season’s longer nights bring us and what they help us release. In Welcome to the Hygge Life, psychotherapist Alisa Stamps shares how we can use darkness as a tool for renewal. And in Sitting with our Shadows: A Journey Back Home to Yourself, codependency coach Alyssa Zander shares how understanding and embracing the darker aspects of herself allowed her to see and meet others on a deeper, more meaningful level.
There’s something else the dark allows us to see more clearly: the light. That’s why I love our feature on Julie Hartigan in this issue. We talk about the backlash women can face when they move through life’s challenges in ways that allows them to embrace their own light—something Julie knows well.
That light is important. Because while this season reminds us of the power of the dark, it also teaches us we cannot sit in it forever. We need the light to find each other.
That idea came up in our exclusive event for our JenX members this month, Refuel Your Glow. We talked about the difference between joy, desire, and intention (inspired by Holly Holt’s piece last month, Say An Intention), and felt the weight and spaciousness of each. After the event a member wrote to me to share how good they felt. “I think I don’t realize how helpful groups like this can be.”
Gathering in the dark, honoring the light, connecting to the depth within ourselves and each other, that’s the beauty of this season.
So in that spirit, I’m wishing you a beautiful season of dark and light; of self-discovery, warm connections, and the joy of nightly walks.
xo,
Jen
ps. New to Jennifer and wonder what JenX is? It’s our magazine’s membership (and a cheeky play on words). Members receive invites to monthly live events, exclusive content, and other special perks like discounts on brands we love like Nau. Visit our site jennifermag.com or click here to join us.