Winter…again?
They come regularly, right after autumn. Some are long, some are short, some are difficult, some are easy, but they always come right after autumn. That is never going to change.
There are all kinds of winters-the “winter” when we can’t figure it out, the “winter” when everything seems to go haywire. There are economic winters, social winters and personal winters.
Wintertime can bring disappointment, and disappointment is common to all of us.
So we must learn how to handle the winters.
We must learn how to handle difficulty; it always comes after opportunity.
We must learn to handle recessions; they come right after expansions.
That isn’t going to change.
The big question is so what can we do about winters? We can’t get rid of December or January simply by tearing it off the calendar!
But here is what we can do:
We can hibernate and slow down,
appreciate life,
rest,
dream, and plan.
We can give ourselves permission to reflect, rejuvenate, rejoice…
(see appropriate references in blog post at
http://www.wisdomenough.com/how-i-spent-my-summer-vacation/ )
Maybe twice a year is a good idea?
And if we want to do something, we can also get stronger; we can get wiser; and we can get better. Remember that trio of words: stronger, wiser, better. The winters won’t change but we can.
It does no good to wish it were summer when it is winter. When things are difficult, wishing they were easy doesn’t work!
But as the great personal development guru Jim Rohn said.
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”
And while we’re looking at advice, I would add
“Don’t just wish-decide and choose, plan and act.”
8 Comments
I actually really like winter. Out here the trees and pasture go all white, the air is crisp and still, the birdbath becomes an ice skating rink. My plan is to mostly be indoors and get better at music.
Oddly, even though things have been challenging, I’m not wishing for ‘easier’. I’m finding myself a bit intrigued by the ways my mind is wrapping around the challenges. And when I’m not intrigued….nap time! There’s nothing quite like a nap with all the animals (well, not the horse or donkey) when they clamor up onto the bed with me for a snooze.
Fay, I love the idea of taking a nap when you’re not “intrigued!”
Just the thing for refueling!
“Winter” to me is the cold weather coming as is family gatherings. I enjoy the warm, happy times when family gathers for games, good food, and enjoyable stories. It is also the time to reflect and remember the times with other family gatherings and the people who brought their lives to share with us then.
It is the reflection on the past, enjoying the present, and thinking about what is next in the future ( more family times ). It is the opportunity to remember others and helps keep them from being forgotten. So, lots about “Winter” that has nothing to do with cold outside but a lot to do with warmth inside. Earl
Earl, how very true your observation that “winter has nothing to do with cold outside but a lot to do with warmth inside.”
Winter means all of the AWESOME coffee mugs come out. It also means collecting carts in the snow because I work at Safeway. ….Yay.
Hannah, so good to hear from you! And just like the mugs that “come out” so do the “ugly sweaters.” So maybe ugly is just another word for awesome?
I’ve never been a big fan of winter, but I have learned to appreciate the time for reflection and introspection. The time for renewal and of course the holidays which bring joy to me. The time to enjoy family, friends and all the opportunities for service to the community.
Cecelia, because it is sometimes difficult for us to give ourselves permission to slow down for reflection and introspection, winter is a great gift/excuse/reason for us to do so.