What comes to mind when you think of winter?
Growing up in Southeast Asia, snow and cold wasn't really a part of my life. So when I started college in Midwest United States, I was excited for the possibility of snow.
To me, winter was fun, pretty, exciting, and adventurous. I wasn't a big fan of the freezing cold, being a tropical boy myself, but the temperature was an acceptable price to pay for the magic of winter.
And winter was magical. Growing up, my only exposure to the idea of winter was through movies. Winter meant Christmas, and Christmas was magical. Overall, despite the added tediousness of putting on multiple layers of clothing and scraping ice off my windshield, I had a pretty good relationship with the season.
But at some point, that changed.
I don't know when the shift happened, but I started using words like "dull" and "dreary" and "depressing" when talking about winter. I found myself thinking more about how oppressive the weather was on my mood and lifestyle, and all the inconveniences that come with the season. And that perspective made me enjoy it less and less.
It wasn't until only recently—when I read Kari Leibowitz's How To Winter and pondered on the season—did I realize this change within myself. I wondered, "How did I come to think of winter in these negative terms? How did I forget the anticipation and enjoyment I used to have?"
Maybe it's part of growing up, I guess.
And then I realized: that's how the people around me have always talked.
I've lost count of how many times I've heard the sentiment, "Winter depresses me."
It was all about the dirty slushes of snow, the dismay of shorter daylight and longer nights, and how almost everyone seems to be suffering from seasonal depression. Over time, in my subconscious mind, that perspective was caught.
And I want to change that. I want to change the way that I, and hopefully you too, approach the wintertime. And it starts with our mindset. And we change our mindset by changing the stories we tell ourselves.
What if, instead of limiting our opportunities, winter gives us new ones?
What if, instead of being dreary, it's cozy because we get to wear hoodies and curl up on the couch under a blanket with a hot drink and a good book?
And if you're more outdoor-minded, what if, instead of making hiking and swimming impossible, winter means building snowmen, sledding, skiing, or ice skating?
What if, instead of dull, it's exciting, fun, and beautiful?
When we change our approach, suddenly winter isn't so bad anymore. We learn to embrace the flow of nature — and its beauty.
Winter doesn't have to be something to persevere and suffer through to get to the 'good part' which is summer. It brings its own gifts — if we have the eyes to see it, and the hearts to receive it.
Stay purposeful.
– Nathanael
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