Who likes winter?
I am not a winter person. I thrive in summer; give me endless days of sunshine, heat and humidity! I was born with tropical blood in my veins! For nearly three years, I have lived in a mountain climate, where you really get to understand what winter is all about (trust me, until you have truly lived through an entire winter where rain, mist and fog and below 10 degree temperatures are common, you have NO idea what winter is all about!). Living in a place where nature is such a force also makes you really understand the changing of the seasons. Watching the leaves first turn orange and then fall from my cherry blossom tree until it is bare, and then waiting for the first buds, first blossoms, reminds me of the impermanence of life.
The changing seasons is a good test for the spiritual warrior; a time to spring or winter clean, shed old skins, change old habits, dream, reassess, plan, rest and move into action. Autumn and winter may be traditionally a time when we hibernate but it’s also an ideal time to actually do the work to reach the goals that we planned at the start of the year. So with that in mind, as the seasons change, I am going to try and make friends with winter. Firstly, to be grateful for the gifts of winter;
Autumn leaves...so beautiful
Do you like winter? Or are you a summer person? What are your plans/goals this winter?
The changing seasons is a good test for the spiritual warrior; a time to spring or winter clean, shed old skins, change old habits, dream, reassess, plan, rest and move into action. Autumn and winter may be traditionally a time when we hibernate but it’s also an ideal time to actually do the work to reach the goals that we planned at the start of the year. So with that in mind, as the seasons change, I am going to try and make friends with winter. Firstly, to be grateful for the gifts of winter;
Autumn leaves...so beautiful
- Winter food...I’m thinking Jamie Oliver stews, homemade soups with crusty bread, roast dinners...yum! Maybe this winter calls for trying at least five new recipes
- Doonas, quilts, blankets, rugs...anything to cuddle up under while you have a cuppa. Surely that calls for buying a new one?
- Blue sky days..lapping up every last bit of sunshine with long walks in the zingy air
- Music...good at any time, but something about putting on a good cd to brighten up a misty day
- Warmth...hot showers, central heating or a fire, warm socks
- And best of all, every winter holds one special day...my little boy’s birthday! Surely something to celebrate, the best harvest moon I’ve ever had.
Do you like winter? Or are you a summer person? What are your plans/goals this winter?
I once had to start making peace with the changing of the seasons in a very structured way. I bought a big scrap book and divided it into 4 sections - one for each season. And as the year progressed I noted what I loved about each season.
ReplyDeleteI'm flipping through it now. Winter is filled with entires just like yours; listening to the sound of rain droplets on the roof, snuggling in bed without getting too hot (hard to snuggle in bed on a hot summers night) numerous mentions of stews and comfort food....and particularly baking - the smell of vanilla in the kitchen.
Then theres Christmas of course. Very special.
And finally - a little entry that says"avoid creating anything new" which is my reminder to myself that Winter is the month for lying fallow - allowing the creative impulse to sleeeeeep. Hibernate if possible. Because if I cant rest my soul deeply during Winter then it wont feel like blooming in Spring.
Nicely said Jo Flynn.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely we need to honour the changes in energy that comes with each season, and if we are going to be ready for the burst of creative energy that is Spring, we absolutely need to honour the quiet, fallow withdrawing impulse that is Winter.
(I can feel an Evolution or Bust Assignment Coming on!)
StJohn