It's about this time every year that I question why anyone in their right mind (including myself) would choose to live in Boston when we could move to a tropical climate at any time. I hate cold. Even more than cold, I hate dark. It is only mid- October and it's already freezing and dark. I am going to Connecticut this weekend for a wedding and I heard a rumor it is SNOWING there. I'm pretty sure when Timna planned an October wedding, she was not thinking SNOW would be an issue.
I was wallowing in self pity about this miserable weather and the fact that it is only getting worse when I read this post. Angela is encouraging all of us to get outside and ENJOY winter instead of staying inside and being depressed. Another blogger, Gina, pointed us last week to an article on health myths and one of them is that being cold does not weaken our immune system. I have heard this several times before I have the hardest time believing it. If that's true, why am I always sick in the winter? I feel like from October to March I am fighting illness. I know I work with kids, but I work with them in the summer too. I had a kid this summer coughing and sneezing all over his work and I was his 1:1 tutor, yet I never caught it. What if it's not the cold, but rather my mood and the fact that I am not getting enough fresh air that is the problem? I do take my kids out to recess at least once a day in winter but I'm not being active and having fun during that time, just putting out mini fires about how so and so will not play with me or so and so hit me.
So, thanks to Angela's inspiring post this winter I am going to love winter. I know, easy to say now in mid October. I haven't had to shovel yet. But to be honest I was already starting to get depressed about how far away summer is...so this faint speck of optimism is better than where I was. Enter:
The Things to Look Forward to in Winter List
1. Ice Skating
2. Gingerbread Houses
3. New Years Celebrations
4. Cape Cod- Winter Style
5. Christmas Decorations
See? Winter is not so bad! I also have some plans for getting active outside including learning how to snow shoe and cross country ski this winter.
What do you look forward to about winter weather? What do you like to do outside in the winter?
Go to my post yesterday to vote on which travel spot you'd like to hear about. Right now it is a 3 way tie between Italy, Scotland and New Zealand. All good choices I have to say!
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Oh yes, the short days and lower temps. Something to look forward to? How about skiing, or warm turkey meal at Thanksgiving, or the beautiful lights on houses and trees for the holidays, or the musk smells of amber .... mmm.
ReplyDeleteEvery winter I get into such a depressed funk. So this year I have told myself - nope, not happening. My goal is to find fun things to do outside. So I am going to start cross-country skiing since there are lots of great trails around my house. And the guy that I am dating loves to snowboard so I think we are going to do that some time this winter.
ReplyDeleteSo very timely post becuase I have been thinking - what can I do to enjoy these many, many winter months!!
And for the record, this weather is RIDICULOUS. Why the eff does it need to snow in October.
USUALLY at about this time we should be happy with live in boston because of the RED SOX. but no.
ReplyDeleteps. pick up your phone : (
Winter. Well, we don't really have Winter in North Texas. Just a few "cold" days sprinkled here and there. And yeah, we go into a panic if it is going to freeze, because it almost always ices when it freezes. BUT with our "Winter" comes cute coats, cozy sweaters, fluffy socks to sleep in, flannel jammies and mostly, a relief from the HEAT!
ReplyDeleteNow that you put it that way, winter doesn't seem TOO bad ;) As much as I hate the cold weather, I kinda love attempting to snowboard...it's totally on my to-do list this winter since we didn't get a chance to this year.
ReplyDeleteI live in MN and it has snowed twice here already! ahh! I love winter but don't want to completely miss fall :(
ReplyDeleteI love winter because it's both Nick and my birthdays! Thy are both in January. I also like the snow, but NOT the cold. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteThe reason you get sick in the winter is because you get less sun, thus less vitamin D. Trust me, start taking a vitamin D supplement 500-600 IU and you will feel great!
I live in Toronto and I am also wondering right now why do I live in the cold city? I have winters and I love summers... I have to wait at least 8 months!
ReplyDeleteBrought a smile to my face :) I always want to be where a real winter would be...our california winter weather is pathetic! I'm jealous :) Good for you on the positive twist!
ReplyDeleteI actually DO enjoy winter, and outside winter activities!
ReplyDeleteThe thing I DON'T like about winter, is where I live right now it lasts 5-6 months and where I grew up it was winter for 7-8 months out of the year. That is too long, and after 3 or 4 months of it I start to get quite bummed.
BUT I'm going to TRY to stay upbeat and positive this winter!!
Yes, it snowed yesterday here in Connecticut! Fortunately even though it snowed for 3 hours, it didn't stick to the ground. I dislike winter, ok, I HATE winter. Sorry folks, but I don't ski, ice skate, or do winter activities. I hate having to drive in snow, snowblow snow, and buy LOTS of heating oil because it's so cold in CT! All of you youngsters let me know if you're still so positive about snow when you get to be my age (53). By the way, I don't mean this post to sound "mean." Just having some fun with all you positive thinkers. Have a nice WARM weekend everyone!
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of the cold. My fingers and toes go numb with just the hint of cold! But
ReplyDeletei do love how pretty the snow is, celebrating Christmas, and feeling snuggly inside on a cold day.
Gave you a little shout out on my post today! I was talking about knee pain so I just had to mention you! My knees are still bugging me, but I am going to try a few different things to see what might be causing the pain. Hopefully it's not an injury. I mentioned in my post I think it may have something to do with my new custom orthodics and the fact that I am supposed to wear them all the time, but I mostly just wear them during workouts or whenever my sneakers are on....need to make a little change...
ReplyDelete<3Katie
I love the ending of this post. Those are all great things about winter. Plus the food!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the holiday season. From Halloween until New Year's is my favorite time of the year!
ReplyDeleteI'm also looking forward to 1 or 2 big snowstorms. I love taking walks when it's still snowing outside. Everything is so still and quiet! It's very peaceful!
An attitude shift is the best way to brace yourself for winter. I do this too and I have to say that I LOVE this time of the year for all the reasons you mentioned plus more. There's a sense of peace when it's the dead of winter and the snow is falling. It's just such a cozy time of year, you know? Anyway, I'd love to hear about Italy, I'm dying to go there.
ReplyDeletemmm loving winter -- sounds tough, but I shall try! at least it gives me an excuse to wear my comfy moccasins and eat soup :)
ReplyDeleteOoo I love this post. Just today I had the t.v. on in the background while I was baking and I heard some Christmas music come on (it was for that new Christmas Carol movie with Jim Carey). Christmas music is one of my favorite parts of the season and I will begin listening the day after Thanksgiving! I also love decorating the tree, both of these things really put me in the holiday spirit!
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