Does everyone have happy childhood winter memories? I do – of greeting card perfect snowy scenes and sledding — oh, the sledding!
A few days each winter the snow was compact and frozen, and on those days my father drove my sister and me to the top of the road, from where we would follow him back down on our runner sleds.
He often had to drive at least 20 miles per hour to keep ahead of us. If our poor steering (we hooked our sleds together, thus making them harder to control), hadn’t periodically crashed us into snowbanks, we’d probably have sledded down even faster.
I loved playing in the snow.
As an adult, I’ve became a grump, struggling to stay happy in winter time. I know I’m not alone; winter months are hard for many. Typically, most of my enjoyment of the season ends shortly after the holidays. If we could shrink winter into about two months, I’d be delighted.
In concept, I do like winter — a time when much of the natural world rests appeals in theory.
I dread the hard facts, though: mud, cold rain, layers of clothing and constantly being too cold or too warm. Pursuing my coping mechanisms — seeking out cheer and brightness among people — just brings into focus what I don’t like about the frigid months.
The socializing part would be great, but then I need to bundle up for the outdoors, and am too warm once I’m in my car or at my destination. And I dread both driving on snowy or icy roads or through mud.
My curmudgeonly aging self no longer enjoys outdoor winter activities as much — see above about layering clothes, coping with cold, and transportation difficulties.
This year, though, I haven’t fallen into the winter blues so much (yet — I know we have a ways to go). Keeping to pandemic socializing restrictions, I’ve come to terms with staying put, together with my family members also sticking close to home, driving much less, and I’ve not sunk into winter misery so much.
Before the holidays, making space for decorations and activities, I went though my UFO box (unfinished projects). Since then, I’ve kept busy finishing one project, and am gearing up to finish another. Clearing up and re-arranging my living and storage space has proved a pleasant activity, distracting from winter cold and dark.
I’ve been thinking about this summer’s garden, poring over catalogs, ordering seeds, and reading.
I haven’t abandoned socializing entirely. With friends I started a virtual permaculture learning group. We read and watch gardening, earth care, and nature videos together and read the relevant literature. I’ve just started reading “Gaia’s Garden — A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture.”
Just staying home has been beneficial in my slowing down when I’m tired and not pushing myself to continue as normal, or even packing my schedule ever more fully. I’ve rested.
Not driving through snow and mud has relieved stress and contributed to a more stable mood. I still feel a bit down when facing overcast skies and blasts of cold, but it feels OK. I’ve given myself time to rest and pace my activity as I have the energy for it.
I know not everyone of us has the possibility of keeping safe at home, whether we want to do so or not. But when we are able to, I hope you join me in snuggling up with a project or book, spend family time, stay in touch with those who are still at a distance, and that this coping mechanism helps you beat the winter blues too.
