Day 20, December 23, 7:05 a.m.

Without clouds, the sunrise doesn’t shine. Metaphorical of course, because the sun still rises, but a sunrise isn’t spectacular without a supporting cast.

Walking up the hill this morning, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. And the sunrise started off strong and then fizzled into whiteness. This made me think of Shine Theory, a concept coined by Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow and introduced to me by my friend Meredith. Instead of there only being one seat at the table for a woman amongst a sea of men, Shine Theory posits that women are stronger together: When you shine, I shine.

I miss my shiny life and my shiny posse from the before times. But just because life hands you new circumstances it doesn’t mean you have to let go of old beliefs. And it doesn’t mean you have to stick to old ways of thinking. Perhaps it’s magical thinking to think it, but in these darkest days I feel like reminding you—and me—that when you shine, I shine. xo #MeetingMorning