Meditations: In the Depth of Winter…
โIn the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.โ Albert Camus
Meditations: In the Depth of Winter is An Invincible Summer... via Wikipedia
Of late, the snowstorms and raining ice chips have left many of us in New York and across the nation in a tizzy; albeit, some in the doldrums. The weather has been quite brutal and it feels like we have permanently moved to the alps. Of course, the winter doldrums will pass … as will our cabin fever but until then; what to do? Most of us know that one of the things we let go in the winter is the need to get out and exercise. We hibernate by turning inwards and curling up by the fireplace (or not) with a favorite book, a movie, or comfort foods. Sure, there’s skiing, skating and other winter sports for those who like the cold but, for the rest of us… well, it’s not so easy.
As much as I appreciate the changing seasons, winter has not managed to win my favor or leave a joyful, indelible memory in my bones. The endless spread of snow, the biting cold, the formidable snapping winds and icy roads make me cringe and then I wonder; How could I have spent so many years of my life in countries with cold weather and not adjust to it? I suppose some of us just have warm weather bones and crave the heat and sunshine more than the cold and snowfall. But I started to think about this today because I wanted to change my thinking a bit; even a little shift can make a huge difference in our lives.
I looked at Albert Camus’ quote and thought about it some more. There is an invincible summer in the depth of our winter. There is strength within the human soul that peeks through even when we are going through the dark night of the soul. No matter what we are going through at any point in our lives, we can find moments, little moments of hope and love and light… These moments remind us that we can weather the changing seasons; if we stop and take account of the good around us. We can discard what no longer serves us but keep what does and add new ways of being to our routines.
A mini movie from Simple Truths: Laughter is an Instant Vacation will add humor to your day. We can look at other ideas to help shift our thinking in creative ways. I have a mentor in Brooklyn and we meet weekly. But because of the last snowstorm, we got to use Skype… Lovely! I’ve even dug out some hip-hop dance-exercise DVDs and … chuckle all you want, it has added to the invincible summer in my household. ๐ What’s going on in your winter world? Do tell!
How do you spend your time during the cold season? Winter bunny? Skiing buff? Do share and we’ll live vicariously through your winter tale.
Positive Motivation Tip: Like the seasons in our life, every winter leads us gently to spring and then the summer… Don’t give up!
Related Articles
- 50 Great Quotes About Winter (brainz.org)
- A brother’s memory turns winter to summer (timesunion.com)
- Our Attitude: The Last of the Human Freedoms… (eof737.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Winter Turrach by Kmarka via Wikipedia
Until Next Timeโฆ
Ask. Believe. Receive. ยฉ
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I love that line about ‘invincible summer’ and it is a great reminder to look beyond the cold and the misery to the joy that can be found in the situation. You certainly sound as though you are making the most of your enforced hiberation. Enjoy! ๐
I am doing my best under the circumstances… LOL! ๐
It still strikes me as odd that I never outgrew my struggle with the cold season. With kids in tow, we have to make adjustments so I took ice skating classes with them… much to their chagrin; I was awful. ๐
E
I enjoy the extra time in the house with my family. Sure, we get a little stir crazy but I still enjoy the togetherness.
The togetherness is a good thing and we get to have conversations that were discarded as other pressing matters arose. The family time is good, the cabin fever isn’t.
By the way, when do I collect my hotty potty? ๐
E
a wonderful CAMUS quotation…
โIn the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.โ Albert Camus
greetings from flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/
Yes, I love Camus and all the deep and mind shifting books he wrote… such a tragic end though.
Thanks for commenting! ๐
Eliz
What to do on a cold winter day? Well, I guess it gives us more time to blog. ๐ And catch up on reading the blogs of others. ๐
Why not plan a picnic with your family…especially if you have young children. Make sandwiches, pack juice boxes, spread out a blanket on the livingroom floor…put on some music and have a ball!
By the way, if you have some clean snow around :), why not scoop some up and make snowballs and put them in a container or plastic bag and store in the freezer. Sometime in July or August, take them out and have a summer snowball fight…if they are too hard and might hurt someone, play a toss the snowball in a bucket game (kind of like a bean bag toss)…make sure everyone is wearing gloves. ๐
Thanks, Eliz, for reminding us to look inside for our suumer and our happiness.
Thanks Viv! My kids are college bound so no more tea parties… Thankfully, we had them when they were younger. You know, I’ve kinda wondered about the frozen snow thing especially when used for snow pops. Isn’t that stuff kinda dirty? I mean I know some folk have to drink rainwater but after it is sifted through a filter of sorts… ๐
Anyway, frozen snowballs for play sounds like fun… I can’t imagine what it would look or feel like come May…. might be lethal for your head. ๐
Eliz
I keep reminding myself how much I hated the oppressive heat we had this past summer. It helps, but I’m longing for spring. As much as I dislike the bitter cold of winter I wouldn’t want to live any place that didn’t have 4 seasons. I think we appreciate spring all the more because of winter.
Thanks for the post!
Yes, I like the four seasons too; just milder versions of each. ๐
I think back to my time in the south of France and how amazing the temperature was even in November… Better go check those lottery tickets. I need a vacation. ๐
E
Sometimes I envy the snow bunnies and their love for the dreary cold of winter.
Then I realise they probably envy me for remaining cool in heatwave temps.
It all works out and we can find our version of invincible under all conditions.
I’m ready for a heatwave and read while I wait for spring.
B
I’m ready for a heatwave… but if the temperature stabilizes from the last several days of extreme conditions, I’ll be fine with it. Quite frankly, even though winter wear is my favorite kind of clothing, I like the idea of dressing lite and not worrying about the car sliding down the hill ;-(
Winter does have its charm tough, no?! ๐
E
As I face the 2011-12 winter coming up in our area, I am not ready! Even though we have lived in a more wintery climate from where I grew-up, I have never really gotten used to it. The snow is beautiful but the cold isn’t something I adjust to easily!
Same here… as much as I’d like to love it, the cold weather is depressing! TY! ๐
Also, thanks for the “like”! jb
Oh, you are welcome! ๐