The calendar says that we officially have a few more weeks before old man winter is upon us. Yet, somehow, he always seems to arrive early here in the mid-west. The sun goes into hibernation, leaving behind a sky full of brooding dark clouds. The air turns thin, crisp and cold. Without much warning we find ourselves knee-deep in snow, ice and rain. Dark, gloomy, icy days and nights for nearly five months is enough to make even the most optimistic among us a hardcore pessimist. Without fail, I get those winter blahs. Not enough to be considered a medical condition (according to my physician), but just enough to walk around for several months feeling as if I was dropped off somewhere in Siberia.  A dark, cold environment can weigh heavily on one’s spirit. It is during this time that I put on a few pesky pounds and hibernate like a bear. Not this year. I have come up with a plan, or two, to try and keep my spirits high and my waist-line in check.

     I am going to try and change my entire attitude towards winter. Easier said then done, I know. I think the key is to try to stop thinking of it as just a season that turns my city into the frozen tundra. There’s a beauty and a peacefulness that comes with winter. I have to open my eyes and mind to seeing it. If I can learn to stop thinking of just the cold and darkness, I can begin to search for ways that the city is transformed into a winter wonderland. There are the beautifully decorated windows at Macy’s that depict some aspect of the season. There are the outdoor ice skating rinks with new and seasoned skaters vying for space and recognition. The city is adorned with the spirit of Christmas. Everywhere you turn there will be artistically decorated front doors and windows. Sweet smelling wreaths will greet me at many of the homes and businesses I enter.

      I will have long hot baths to look forward to, that will knock the chill right from my bones. While I am relaxing and reading the latest book of the month from APOOO, I can sip on my favorite dark chocolate cocoa or a cup of green tea. Soothing and relaxing. I can eat those warm, yummy comfort foods that I don’t normally eat except during this time. My mother’s stew and father’s chili always warms the heart and brings the family together on a chilly Sunday evening. And I do love a cup of steaming hot chicken soup on a blistery day. I can snuggle into my favorite pair of cotton pajama’s and chenille bathrobe, feeling like a butterfly in its cocoon. I will have the opportunity to catch up on new episodes of my favorite shows and discover a few new gems that come along every season. It is this time that I can watch those ebony hunks that run up and down the court and tackle one another on the football field. Watching them can certainly warm a girl up on a cold winter day.

     If I get sick and tired of looking at four walls there is nothing wrong with taking a brisk walk around the block. The exercise will do me good and the smack of cold air upon the face can reinvigorate the body. I can always get out and go shopping for new winter sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves and the season’s stylish new foot-ware. And a reason to shop always puts a smile upon my face, no matter what season it is.

     Upon reflection, winter is probably the one season of the year where my fast paced world slows down. It is a time in life when things retreat and go dormant. I can follow the ways of nature and do the same. Since my world is a little quieter and slower, I can take the time for a little reflection. I can get back to my artistic endeavors, completing those books on my TBR list, or just sit in my armchair near my window watching the snow fall while being still and quiet.

Raven

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