Be the bear.
Okay, can we talk about winter for a second? Because I think we need to give ourselves a break.
When it's dark by 5pm and you need three layers just to check the mail, somehow we're still expecting ourselves to power through as if it's a bright spring morning. But here's the thing—even nature is taking a nap right now, and maybe we should too.
Rest is a part of life, and winter gives us a better understanding of what that means. It's about tuning in and recharging. Giving ourselves uninterrupted time to reflect and restore. This is what the earth is doing.
Winter asks us to be thoughtful about what we do and how we do it. The pace of the world makes it hard to slow down, and while modern conveniences have made it much easier to handle the cold, these same tools actually mask the fact that life has gone silent, still, and underground.
Winter has its own kind of beauty if you give it a chance. There are small daily miracles we often take for granted—like the song of a single robin as it rests on a bare branch, or the fact that we can actually see our breath. If you're paying attention, you can see and feel the little shifts: a slow, quiet return of light that grows stronger each day.
Frankly, I believe it's a radical act to surrender to nature's cycle, to embrace our true place in it, rather than constantly defend against reality. Making the most of the season isn't easy – it requires a shift in thinking.
Yes, it's cold outside. Especially here, when we've had snow every single day this week, and it happens to be 4 degrees Fahrenheit today! But there is also hot cocoa, fires and warm pajamas, cozy blankets and movie nights, and SOUP – yes, please! These aren't indulgences—they're survival skills.
Or consider seeing winter through the eyes of a child. Earlier this month, I was chatting with a child about my long puffer coat—the one I save for sledding adventures. Last week, when he saw me wearing it, his face lit up: "Time to go sledding!"
So be the bear. Stay in your pajamas a little longer. Light more candles. Read by a fire, sit in the dark. Connect with yourself and those you love. Don't apologize for resting when the world goes quiet. Remember—getting through winter is its own kind of strength, and sometimes strength looks like knowing when to slow down.
I stand in the doorway to the backyard every morning when the sun comes up.
I feel the cold and the quiet, and I can hear the wind and the birds, and let the light wash over me—a small ritual to begin the day.
What helps you stay grounded when it’s cold outside? What are some of your favorite winter memories as a child? What can you tend while you are waiting for Spring ?
