If you’re a meteorologist, it’s already winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But if you’re an astronomer, winter will begin this Friday at exactly 5:23 pm here in Havre de Grace, Maryland, a moment known as the winter solstice.

Technically, the winter solstice is the moment when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. It’s over in a flash. And then the reality of winter sets in.

For some, the reality is beautiful, with crackling fires in the fireplace, warm drinks, quiet snowy nights, brilliant sunny days, skiing, skating, sledding, and snowball fights. For others, it’s a bleak reality, with biting winds, snow to be shoveled, treacherous roads to navigate, days that are too short, cabin fever, and way too many days until spring.

In business, it’s time to wrap up the old year and give birth to the New Year. Depending on your perspective, you might feel like a weary version of Sisyphus, having pushed the rock to the top of the hill only to have it fall back down, forcing you to start over. Or you might feel like a different version of Sisyphus that recognizes rock-pushing as his purpose and just gets on with it. Or you might feel excited about the possibilities a New Year brings.

Regardless of your perspective, the solstice is arriving Friday without any consideration of your view of it. It’s yours to do with it what you will.

Here in Havre de Grace, we’re pretty excited…

Help me start the New Year right