I don’t know about you, but after the holidays winter seems to drag on and on forever.
November is quite lovely, with the changing leaves and fall foods (hello pumpkin pie!), and things are festive and fun throughout December. I find this time of year quite delightful, but I really struggle to enjoy the later winter months.
Come January, it’s just… blah.
It’s dark in the morning when I leave for work, it’s dark by late afternoon before I head home, and with the perpetually overcast sky I barely see the sun.
This weather didn’t always bother me. For many years I actually enjoyed it. I even took a sense of pride in going out when it was dark and rainy, as if I were one with the elements. Rainy days felt soothing. The air smelled fresh. Something about the gray skies made the city feel hushed and the light softened by drizzle and reflecting in puddles made everything feel dreamy.
But now, well, it’s different.
More and more I find myself dreading this time of year.
Over the winter months I stay in much more than usual, more than I’d like to if I’m being honest. I’m less social and less physically active. Sure, it’s cozy by the fire, but not for months on end. More than anything, what I dislike is how I feel about this season. I dread it.
I’d really like to re-frame my way of thinking about winter.
I decided to borrow a copy of How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days by Kari Leibowitz from my library to inspire me in taking a new approach to winter this year. as a PHD student Kari Leibowitz spent a year conducting research in Norway. After having very successful articles published in the press (The Atlantic, USA Today, Fast Company) she’s written How to Winter, addressing both scientific and cultural elements that may help us to have a more positive relationship to winter.
“We can cultivate positive wintertime mindsets by targeting our expectations about the season: welcoming winter deliberately, preparing for the season proactively, and imagining what delights lie ahead. The act of looking forward can change winter before it starts.”
― Kari Leibowitz, How to Winter
I’m hoping for some new insight on how I can thrive during the dark winter days and some practical actions I can take to make this season more joyful. I cannot change the weather, but I can change myself.
It’s going to be rainy and cool this weekend and I’ve got firewood, so I’m all set to curl up with this book. I’ll let you know what I learn!
The Seventeenth Line 