I read lately of three keys to enduring a long winter. But first and foremost is the attitude shift from enduring to celebrating! At least that’s what the PhD student who conducted a mental health study in Norway had to say. Mind you, she only spent one winter there… But the keys she found are ones we are implementing here as we gear up to enjoy winter.
#1 The Opportunity!
One key to enjoying winter is to celebrate the things one can only do in winter, for instance—skiing!
I was sad to see autumn losing ground to winter and the last of the bright leaves tumbling down to be buried in white. But Jim was chomping at the bit to get out cross-country skiing. This is new to us. We bought some skis just as the snow wrapped up last year so didn’t get much of a start. But we took our skis along on our recent trip to Alberta and…found some snow.
I’m the chicken, who has great reservations about new and untried things. Jim is so good for me. We had a good time, and I didn’t even break anything! Though I had a good chuckle at Jim’s videos of me shuffling along like a little old lady—when I in fact pictured myself g-l-i-d-i-n-g along quite proficiently. NOT.
#2 The Cozy ( :
Another thing to celebrate is the coziness of wintertime—candles, fuzzy blankets, fires and hot drinks. And of course, though the article made little mention of it, Christmas time! With its music and sparkle and the smell of gingerbread cooking…and special together times. What would winter be without Christmas?
#3 The Beauty
And then there is the sheer beauty of the season. Apparently, in the dead of winter in Norway there are hours of sunrise and sunset without the sun ever really appearing. As for me, I prefer to see the sun. Yesterday while the first major snow of the season was falling here the sun was shrouded in white.
But today the sun was radiant, pouring in at the window making all seem right in the world, despite my being a little under the weather with the sickness now nicely incubated from our recent trip to visit little people…
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. … I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. … I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. … This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps.118:14,17,24
