By: C. Michelle Bryant
I have to confess I’ve never much been a fan of winter. It’s just not my favorite season. In fact, it is my least favorite. I am a chunky chick, and an extra layer of clothing is not exactly what I need to make a fashion statement or help mi feel good about myself or the way I look as I’m walking out the door in the morning.
As a child primarily growing up in the South, I always thought to myself, “If it’s going to be THIS cold why can’t it snow?” Then moving to places like Oregon, Virginia, Arizona and West Virginia, it didn’t take long before I realized that winter wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, for mi anyway. For example, as the oldest, as soon as I would get everyone into their snowsuits, gloves, hats, boots and scarves and we were all ready to go outside inevitably someone would have to go to the bathroom, and after a 20-minute ordeal to undress all those layers, we start all over again. However, the memory does bring a smile to my face when I think about it now.
As children, we looked forward to snow days and snowball fights and a white Christmas—not to mention our several out-of-school breaks during the winter months; it’s all so grand. As an adult experiencing Alaska, which is a snowy winter state nine months out of the year, having to drive daily on iced roads and deal with walking outside in temperatures that cause the mucus in your nose to freeze and trying your best not to slide past a stop sign into oncoming traffic, I’d say I simply crossed the line on my tolerance level in the seven years I lived there. It was there that I realized also how much I truly DO love sunshine.
And yet, although I do not care much for Old Man Winter himself, I do love what he brings. I love pictures of the snow, the way it lies on the branches of the evergreens like dripping cream. I relish snuggling by the fire with someone who loves mi, be it my spouse or a grandchild. I adore the smell of homemade goodies in the making, the sound of laughter as families gather during winter breaks. I’m one of those people who love pumpkin or cranberry anything. And those flavors tend to last well into February.
I think that although winter is not my favorite season, I am at a point in my life where I appreciate every moment of every day as much as I can. Perhaps it is my age. I have grown to put aside the negativity of my childhood days and embrace the joy of today, winter or not. When it is cold outside that typically
means the family is all inside. Together. In our busy schedule how often does that really happen? It’s almost like Old Man Winter is forcing us to take a vacation day or two and share it with those we love. How wonderful that we have winter to allow us that privilege.
As you celebrate the Christmas holiday season with those you love in whatever way that you do, I hope you will form some traditions. While raising my children, we used to celebrate “Christmas Eve Eve.” We would order pizza, watch every Christmas movie we had and stay up late until we all fell asleep in our sleeping bags on the floor with only the glow of tree lights. It was a great time of togetherness and celebration, for typically the real Christmas Eve the children were in bed early. It is a tradition my children truly enjoyed, and I hope they will pass it down to their children.
As you move into the New Year, instead of making a resolution you know you won’t keep—let alone won’t remember what it was come December—why not adopt and attitude of “out with the old, in with the new” and make a pact or even a contract with your family of things you will accomplish this year together? And as you go into February with many holidays, celebrations and breaks from work and school, I encourage you to embrace the time together. We never truly know how
the year will play out until the final curtain closes. So enjoy every cold, bitter, snuggly, laid-back moment you can. Embrace each other, share some kindness with a stranger and don’t wait until Valentine’s Day to tell someone what they truly mean to you.
stay you, stay beautiful, stay warm,
~ “mi”