On Strawberries, Solstice, and Self-Care

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.”

Mary Oliver

As the solstice dawns, bringing with it the longest day of the year, I found myself in a sun-drenched strawberry field with my children. 

There’s a simple joy in the act of picking strawberries, an activity so pure and grounded, each berry a burst of summer encapsulated in a bite-sized morsel. 

But as we plucked and gathered, I stumbled upon an unexpected metaphor for life, balance, and the art of self-care.

The Illusion of Perfection

With eager hands, we reached for the most vibrant strawberries, their deep red hues promising a sweet reward. 

Yet, more often than not, these seemingly perfect berries were marred by rot on the underside. The facade of flawlessness hid an imperfection beneath—an uncanny resemblance to how we often present ourselves to the world. We show our best side, our brightest smiles, while concealing the rot, the stress, the struggles that lie beneath.

This revelation was both humbling and enlightening. It reminded me that seeking balance and nurturing oneself is not about maintaining a flawless exterior, but about acknowledging and addressing the imperfections. Just as we turned each strawberry to inspect it thoroughly, we must also turn inward, examining our lives honestly and with compassion.

Solstice Reflections

The solstice, a time of maximum light, beckons us to reflect on the balance between light and dark, both in nature and within ourselves. 

It is a time to celebrate the abundance of life while acknowledging the shadows that accompany it. In The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran wrote:

“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” 

Self-care becomes possible when we can accept both sides of the strawberry—the bright, inviting exterior and the hidden imperfections underneath. It is in this acceptance that we have the possibility of making peace with our lives.

To drive the point home Gibran further illuminates,

 “Some of you say, ‘Joy is greater than sorrow,’ and others say, ‘Nay, sorrow is the greater.’ But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.”

Take Care of Yourself (and Each Other)

The path to genuine self-care is paved not with perfection, but with authenticity, vulnerability, and a deep appreciation for the wholeness of our experience.

So, let us celebrate the solstice not just as a fleeting moment of maximum light, but as a reminder that our journey is enriched by both the brightness of our successes and the shadows of our struggles.

In this embrace of all that we are, may we find the strength to live more fully, love more deeply, and care for ourselves (and each other) more tenderly. For it is in the dance of light and shadow that the true beauty of life unfolds.