Snow to Soul: The Gift of Winter

It snowed here in Wisconsin yesterday. It was a fluffy, wet, beautiful sight. The first snow always goes straight to my heart. I love it for a variety of reasons:

1. It signals the beginning of a new season, which I always find refreshing.
2. It means “the holidays are coming,” and I love the sparkle and shine of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas. During these dark days of early winter, the added light of the holidays brings cheer to my soul.
3. It causes me to stop for a moment, pause, and reflect on the gift of winter.

This is the part where you say WHAT?!? Winter is a gift???

Indeed.

Winter means roaring fireplaces, hot cocoa, and simmering mulling spices.
Winter means SmartWool®, a favorite sweater, and down comforters.
Winter means snowy days and time off from work and school.

And what’s more…

Winter reminds us that there IS a time and place for quiet, rest, and rejuvenation. Winter nudges many of us “inside,” where reflection and re-creation of self can occur.  Winter allows space for physical closeness, warmth, and reconnection.

The natural cycle of our world requires Winter so that plants, animals, and other living things have the space and time necessary for RESPITE, GROWTH, and RENEWAL. I think it’s high time we, as humans, take a queue from Winter and see it not as a time of cold, dreary, and/or dark days but instead as a time of peaceful re-introduction to slowing down, quieting our lives, reflecting on our next season, and allowing ourselves to JUST BE.

PS. And, like all of you, by the end of February, I’ll be completely DONE with Winter! But, for now, I welcome its cold breeze, clear sky, and covering of white.

Yours in Wool,