Winter Doesn’t Have to Suck
5 Tips to Lighten Your Spirits
We feel it in our bones.
The leaves have fallen.
The wind whistles.
The air is crisp and cool.
As we walk out in our boots, we can hear the crunch of dead leaves, now barely showing off their red hues, as they fade into the darkness of winter. They have let go. This is nature’s glory to just surrender. To be.
For us, this can be a particularly hard time of the year as we have bid farewell to the summer, the warm breeze and all things that represent smiles and pineapples. The beauty of fall and its’ colourful hues have also departed for another year. So now we resist. We dread the winter coats, boots and parkas.
So then how can we learn to surrender like the falling leaves? To find peace in this new season? As a Canadian, we too are never used to the idea of the cold. We don’t adore winter. At least, not all of us.
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” — Anne Bradstreet
Here are five tips to make your transition to winter a bit happier and less dreadful.
1. Take out your holiday decoration
The most exciting time of the winter season is approaching us. With retail stores slowly bringing out their Christmas decorations, we will soon start to feel the festive spirit. It’s a good time to bring out your Christmas tree, lights and decorations to bring a mood of cheer at home. You don’t have to be religious. For me the holidays are universal, I love it. Why wait? Light it up!
2. Buy a new piece of winter wear
While many of our winter clothes last us for years, it is always a good time to buy a new scarf, a pair of boots or just something cosy that represents winter. It’s always nice to look at yourself in a bright scarf or a colourful hat. Bring the spark to your wardrobe! We don’t have to look frumpy for four months long.
3. Go to the cinema
This is a favourite hobby for me during the winter. Summers are for patios and parks. I save movie going for the winter. It’s the best way to enjoy a movie while not feeling guilty of missing amazing weather. For those of us with 2 months of summer, every good day of weather counts! Treat winter like a special cinema season. Just for you.
4. Stash some great hot chocolate and fancy tea bags in your pantry
Warm drinks bring joy to the soul. Nothing like a nice hot chocolate with a little whipped cream or a floral tea bag to make for an exciting cuppa. Experiment with flavours. Savour each sip. Holiday mugs can be a great addition to brightening your mood.
5. Embrace a winter sport
Now we all may not be skiers taking on black-diamonds but there is always tubing or sledging down a hill. If nothing, sit at the ski chalet taking in a hot toddy or two or maybe even a scrumptious egg nog. There is always something for everyone to enjoy the season.
Hopefully, you’re feeling more excited about winter than you were before.
And if nothing else, a verse from Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost will definitely shine light to the magic that lies in winter.
“My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.” — Robert Frost
