The Arrival Of Winter

and how it teaches us surrender and acceptance

I love reading out loud, so I thought I would provide a listening option for you today. Enjoy!

We had an exceptionally warm autumn here in Minnesota, with unusually warm temperatures way into October. But recently, as is to be expected, the temperatures have dropped rather rapidly, and with it came some biting and harsh winds that make any already cold day feel at least 10 degrees colder. This week we are experiencing our first sub-zero days with a high of 8 F/- 20 C during mid day. I wasn’t quite ready for this kind of cold.

I woke up with my bedroom windows frozen shut. They are old and need to be replaced, but still, a window that can’t be opened stirs up a slight panic in me. Usually one of the first things I do in the morning is air out the room by opening the window, at least for a few minutes even in very cold weather. It’s a habit that was ingrained in me by my father, who opens the windows wide every morning after he gets up and every night before he goes to bed, even (and especially) in the winter. Germans like their fresh air for sure. Over the years I have lived in the US, I have received many desperate ‘it’s too cold’ and ‘could you at least wait until I am dressed’ complaints from my family. I can be quite ruthless when it comes to opening the windows, but, fortunately for them, on days with extreme cold, it is impossible.

Window View II

The arrival of winter has felt a bit heavy this year. When I first moved to Minnesota, I was quite enthusiastic about the snow, and the sub-zero temperatures felt like a big, exciting adventure to me. But every year, it gets a little bit harder to face the dark and bitter cold days that require putting on lots of layers, shoveling snow, and scraping the ice off the car windows. Everything takes longer and is a bit more challenging. Our routines and responsibilities must continue on despite the harsh change in weather.

This particular kind of cold takes some getting used to. Despite the fact that I am wearing my warmest clothes and plenty of layers, it has been almost painful to take a walk outside. When one feels tired and a bit weary, winter becomes an additional weight to carry.

Window View III

Nonetheless, there is a whole other side of winter that draws me in every year. It’s as if a transformation happens inside of me, particularly on those very cold days. I get enamored by the quiet, the crispness of the air, the winter light in various shades of blue mixed with the fiery orange, red, purple and pink of an early sunset. ‘Blue hour’ is a spectacle that makes me stand still every time, despite the cold that penetrates my body. Breathing in the freezing air feels cleansing and energizing, even if it’s paired with a mild burning sensation in my lungs. The crunching snow under the weight of my feet, the ice on the river sparkling like a million jewels in the winter sun, the intricate and exquisite patterns and designs on my windows that form after a freezing night provide a kind of awe and wonder only possible in these extreme temperatures.

In December, the darkness comes earlier every day for a while until we reach the peak, after which the daylight increases again, bit by bit, almost imperceptibly. Initially a struggle, when I surrender to the darkness instead of fighting it by wishing it was different, it starts to feel like a blanket wrapping me in comfort and giving me permission to quiet down. Coming home after a brisk walk at sunset and settling into the coziness of candle light and a hot beverage or hearty meal is one of my favorite parts of winter.

Window View IV

I don’t think winter asks very much of us. It lets us be. It’s our modern life and society that asks us to keep functioning as if nothing has changed, that is what makes this season often quite challenging. But winter itself gently reminds us that making space for rest and retreat is an essential human need in order to care for mind, body, and soul.

To me, the season of winter is a fitting metaphor for life. It is brutal and beautiful at the same time. It instills in me a sense of surrender and acceptance. It teaches me to pay attention and to never seize the search for beauty. It teaches me that embracing its beauty makes the brutal much less powerful.

I know that by March, I will be more than ready for the ease of longer and warmer days again, but meanwhile, witnessing the unique beauty of this season fills me with hope and inspiration until the light returns.

Thank you so much for being here!

I invite you to leave your thoughts in the comment section and/or share this post with others.

Warm wishes,

Manuela

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Mark Your Calendars

Our next “Creative Hour” on Zoom is scheduled for Saturday, January 18th, 11 am CST. Details will follow.