How to Honour Winter
Getting you through the dark nights during one of my favourite seasons.
Did you just do a double take at that subheading? “My favourite season”?
Yes, it is indeed true that unlike so many people, I actually quite love the winter. Don’t get me wrong, I am craving some Vitamin D and bare foot beach walks as much as you are; but there is something special about this time of year and I want to share with you why it means so much to me, the magical moments it can create and how to turn around the next two months to get you through to spring.
I want to start off by sharing with you a few gorgeous winter quotes that I love:
"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'"
- Lewis Carroll
And…
"Winter is a season of recovery and preparation."
– Paul Theroux
Over the course of the next ten days, I am taking part in a Winter Writing Sanctuary. This course appealed to me for a number of reasons; namely the fact I love to write and I love winter. It seems to me the PERFECT time to write, as we are spending more time indoors and I need something to distract me from the pile of leftover Christmas chocolates that sits on our kitchen bench. Such a shame the kids don’t like Crunchies…
As I settled down to start day one of the course, my mind started to drift towards why it is I enjoy this season so much?
Now that birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas is over, I can see that there is more to winter that brings me joy, elements of the frosty cold I never gave previous credit towards.
My feet are always cold. My hands are always cold as my children squeal while I help them to get dressed in a morning. I wear slipper socks to bed and oversized hoodies during my working hours at my desk. Hands wrapped around a hot mug of coffee.
Last year I jumped at the chance to work with Promote Shetland and dragged my family along for a winter adventure. It seemed so much more exciting at this time of the year.
Why DO I embrace this season with so much gusto?
Hibernation.
That’s it. I need to hibernate and recharge after another busy and full on year.
I like the fact we can step out for a short time, have a bracing walk and then return home to the cosy warmth, like the hedgehog seeking shelter.
When people think of WINTER, more often than not, they use adjectives such as “cold”, “grey” and “dark”. Creating a sense of gloom.
Winter, I find, is not a season to be prodded with a negative stick.
It is a pause.
The reset button that allows us all, Mother Nature included, to prepare for the spring.
Winter is needed.
Try this exercise:
Take those cold words I just mentioned and try making them warm.
For example…
COLD - Becomes blankets, hot chocolates, cosy socks (hello warm feet in bed), hot water bottles and gloves.
DARK - Becomes candles lit, fairy lights, resting, slowing down, shadow puppets before bed, star gazing. Adventure.
GREY - Becomes favourite books that bring you colour. Hugs, singing along to kitchen discos, keeping dry under umbrellas and welly boots. Walks in the middle of the day to catch any ray of sunshine you can find.
This may all sound a bit wishy washy, however, I believe that if you really do struggle with this season, these are a few small steps (that are cheaper than booking a flight to catch the winter sun), you can take to help you through the next few months.
This is my honour to winter.
An honour to it’s beauty and to the start of another year of making wonderful memories. Eating food that is good for the soul and spending time around a games board with the family.
Adding layers of clothing to my children and taking them outdoors to view the low sun and dramatic skies.
The Winter Equinox has now passed, so while everything still feels a bit dark, we know that each day holds a little more light than the last. I hope you can take this with you.
And in true form, my feet have become very cold sitting here writing so I am off to put my slipper socks on, where they shall probably stay for the rest of the day!
If you would like to read about our Shetland Winter Adventure which includes a full itinerary for planning a trip out there, you can do so below.
Love this, such a positive spin on spin on winter. I think in every season we have to seek out the best bits that we can hold on to and squeeze lots of joy from 💛
This is beautiful. Reading from my cold basement office in cold Toronto, with several layers and hot coffee while I work. Happy to have found this space.