Raise your hand if you know for sure that this is the one season that seems to drag on forever. And ever.
Unlike the other three seasons that seem to come and go in a flash, these frosty months tend to have no end ... especially here on the New England coast where we seem to vault from winter to summer with scarcely a glance at spring.
For this month's edition of Loose Ends, I'm especially drawn to consider Emily Freeman's quarterly What We Learned invitation. Because even in the midst of the gray and cold and the oft' endlessly desolate, there are flashes of warmth and joy, sunlight and hope if only we have eyes to see.
And it's always an encouragement to gather with like-minded souls and share what's working for us. Because the truth is, we're all students, aren't we, and we do learn from each other when we come with open hearts and a healthy expectancy.
We never stop learning.
I love that.
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Here's what I'm learning {or relearning!} this winter:
1. A Classic Chocolate Frosty from Wendy's can brighten up the dullest evening.
While hot chocolate with heaps of whipped cream would normally be my go-to evening beverage, there's something weirdly decadent about spooning creamy, cold chocolate while under a very warm quilt.
More than once, my gracious husband has donned his winter coat to run down to the circle and fetch me one. That's what love looks like after 44 years.
2. There's a big difference between choosing solitude and morphing into a hermit.
Solitude is a conscious choice we make that allows us to draw close to God, clear our minds, and refresh our souls. The hermit thing is more about isolation, escaping, denial, or some kind of lame coping mechanism that only serves to drag us down.
Choose the solitude option, please. Here's how.
3. If you're feeling punky, call your doctor.
Resist every futile urge to self-diagnose, Google others' traumatic health miseries, or wring your hands thinking you have to figure out your ailments on your own.
More about feeling punky is here.
And if you love someone who's feeling punky, please read this.
4. Texting is a blessed lifeline.
I know, I know, it's not the optimum way to connect but when the ones you love are way too far away, there's nothing like a quick connect to brighten your day. Two points for those extended family threads that include pictures and stories that crack everyone up ... and three points for connecting with your grandkiddos.
5. Open the windows.
Yep, even if it's only 15 degrees out and the wind is blowing mightily. I open a window wide when I change the linens, clean the bathrooms, or when some heavy-duty cooking threatens to make the house smell like a cheap diner.
We definitely sleep better at night when a window is cracked just a bit, balancing out the cozy flannel sheets, electric blanket, and ever present quilt. And sometimes we may even get to hear a lone bird chirping a solitary winter song ... or sadly, a pack of coyotes howling as they chase their prey through the moonlit woods.
6. If it's above 40 and it's sunny, go outside.
Ditch the excuses, get off the sofa, find your sneakers, grab your coat and take a walk, do a bit of clean up in the garden, chat with a neighbor walking her dog, check out what's happening outside your four walls.
And yes, this is harder than it sounds, especially for us non-athletic homebody types.
7. Grab the kettle and invite someone over for a mug of tea.
You don't have to be the queen of hospitality, you just need a few mugs and an open heart. No need to bake or set the table like royalty is coming. Curl up for an hour with a good friend and a heart-warming chat. Extra points if you end up praying for each other.
8. Indulge in fresh flowers.
Yes, money might be tight, but a little bunch of colorful blooms or a tiny pot of bulbs ready to burst open can be sheer gold for your physical and emotional health. No need to spend an arm and a leg at a florist ... you can pick them up at Trader Joe's or your supermarket.
If you don't believe how beneficial this can be for your mid-winter sanity, read this.
9. End the day immersed in gently turned pages, not fixated on some sort of stimulating screen.
That blue light and all the overwhelm those screens pummel us with do us no favors at the end of the day. How 'bout choosing to spend time savoring your Bible. A favorite devotional. Your trusty journal. Or some light fiction.
Nothing heavy or ponderous. Pages that soothe your soul, calm your brain, and invite you to drift off into dreamland.
How's your winter going? Do tell ...
Linda
P.S.
Please don't leave 'til you subscribe to get the monthly Loose Ends e-zine, the monthly Bookbag post, and other assorted reads in your inbox! And if you liked what you've read today, please share with your fans and followers!
P.S.S.
Be sure to check out the huge variety of my favorite online reads over on my LinkedIn page! From homekeeping to leadership, books to ministry, culture, emotional health and whatever, I'd love to connect with you there.
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visiting with
These are so good, Linda. I agree about texting. Some look down on it, but I love it for quickly touching base, sharing a thought or a laugh or just to let someone know you're thinking of them.
ReplyDeleteI can too easily be a hermit. Church is great for getting me out among the living. And everyday tasks. I grumble about having to grocery shop so often, but it does get me out there.
Fresh flowers do help a lot. One of the hard things for me about winter, besides the cold, is the lack of growing things and the barren landscape outside. Flowers help both of those.
I wrote about my February here: https://barbaraleeharper.com/2020/02/27/february-reflections/. I'm thinking of going to quarterly rather than monthly wrap-ups.
I love how you share your hand-crafted greeting cards in your monthly reviews, Barbara! Even if you do go to a quarterly format, please keep sharing your beautiful handiwork with us!
DeleteIt's been a long winter this year. Today, for the first time this winter, we had snow. It lasted for exactly 29.52 minutes. I went out and tripped on a snow flake left on our doorstep.
ReplyDeleteWhat have I learnt this winter? Unlike you, I do not sleep with a window open. I did it once and by the morning birds nested in my beard.
I also do not sleep with my pets. I did it once and by the morning the bed was totally wet, and my goldfish died.
Unlike you, I do not invite people for a cup of tea or coffee or anything else. They will often want biscuits as well, then they'll invite me to their place, and they'll come back to mine again and before long we'll be friends and they'll want to borrow my lawnmower or something else. Better not to invite anyone in the first place.
Unlike you, I do not have fresh flowers. If it is not edible it is not worth having. Fresh chocolates, fresh pizzas, fresh donuts and so on are better alternatives to flowers.
Rather than being immersed in the pages of a book, I wait until the book is made into a film and then watch it on TV with the subtitles on and this way I have read the book.
I am a well balanced person with a chip on each shoulder.
God bless.
My husband absolutely loved your 'I do not invite people for a cup of tea' paragraph, Victor!
DeleteALMOST as much as I did!
:-}
Thanks for bringing wit, laughter, and joy with you here today on two posts. Your visits have truly been bright spots, friend ...
Thanks for a great response Victor!! I was thinking of some of those responses before I read yours, but mine wouldn't have come across as funny!! I appreciate the mid-afternoon pick me up!
DeleteMarilyn - check out Victor's too funny comments on the last post!
Delete;-}
I have always wanted to do Emily's "What I learned" posts but never got around to it. I love yours!
ReplyDeleteI agree...chocolate ANYTHING can liven up a winter evening!
I also love your idea about indulging in fresh flowers. I don't do that nearly often enough. Going shopping tomorrow...
Yes please to chocolate, especially the good kind.
DeleteAnd yes please to anything fresh and colorful and flourishing ... especially in the deep mid-winter.
Can't wait to hear what you buy at the store, Laurie!
I agree with Martha Linda. Chocolate anything. My winter has been a wild mix of frenetic activity and laid back fun. I have been working out every other day and riding my bike inside the others. Studying and reading a lot. Our weather hasn't really been all that bad for winter. Negligible amount of snow (which is good). Lots of time with Jo
ReplyDelete'Chocolate anything.'
DeleteWell said, Bill.
But you're wise because you balance your intake with plenty of physical activity. I could certainly do better.
Enjoy Jo this weekend. Bless you, friend.
Linda, this post is so good. Living north of Boston, this winter has not been too bad and yet, I am ready for spring. But we have been blessed with so many "springlike" days which invited us outdoors and felt wonderful. And yes (!) to opening windows as it not only lets out stale odors but whisks in such joy with each hint of spring. I love these month end posts as they always make me smile :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it gorgeous out today, Joanne?! And I love the way you said it when you mentioned whisking in joy when opening the windows.
DeleteI'm off to do the same.
Happily.
Enjoy your weekend!
I do love these posts.
ReplyDeleteAnd a good Frosty treat is something I never say no to.
;-)
DeleteYes, another winter's day
ReplyDeletejust like the one before.
No time to kneel, no time to pray,
for 'tis season, now, for war.
I have to push unto the light,
and never ask for mercy
for it's up to me to win this fight
as kith and kin desert me
to step back to a waiting place,
ties sundered by anticipation,
praying for me death's calm grace,
and in my heart grows alienation;
they want to see the tortures end,
but as death's allies, be they friends?
Ah, friend, your 'kith and kin' aren't deserting you around here. That I can assure you of.
Delete'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.'
- John 14:27.
Flowers, solitude, a comforting book, and chocolate . . . These, and the others you mentioned, are all great ways not to just survive winter, but to thrive! And now you have me thinking about a Wendy's frosty - lol!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Linda, and thanks for the sweet comment you left on my blog today!
And maybe those flowers, some solitude, a comforting book, and chocolate will be helpful companions as you make your way through this difficult transition.
DeleteYour many friends and fans will stay close by your side.
And Jesus.
First, foremost, forever. He will never leave, He will never change 'like shifting shadows.'
- James 1:17.
Um... I just about raised my hand, Linda! I am looonging for spring! And more sunny days. We're having so many cloudy, gray days it seems this winter. And a chocolate frosty? Yum! How sweet of your husband to get you one when you have that craving. :) I wish we had a Wendy's closer by. We keep hoping for one on our east side of Sioux Falls. Lots of great stuff here! :) Love and blessings of a restful weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you visited this afternoon, friend! Sending sunshine and a smile your way this brisk winter afternoon!
DeleteI had to laugh at some of these - we are so different! I never open my windows, only have flowers on anniversaries and Valentine's Day, if someone comes over for tea - I have to clean before, so it's not worth it. Enjoyed the post!
ReplyDeleteOh so different, yep ... but on the essentials, what matters most?
DeleteIdentical twins.
xo
These all sound delightful, my friend! I would love to be close enough to join you for that mug of tea or a hot chocolate or a Wendy's frosty. The winter in OH has been a bit different with more rain and temps like a roller coaster without the joy of a few lovely snowfalls that quiet the world and require we stay home and light a fire. Health rebuilding has been a focus. I have been intrigued by Dan Heath's new book Upstream and how it can be applied in all aspects of my life and nearly finished with Debbie Wilson's new treasure, Little Faith, Big God. Favorites for me in the winter are my red leather chair with a hot cup of tea or coffee and a fire with my journal and favorite things to read. A weekly lunch date with a dear friend has also blessed the shorter daylight hours and uncertain weather. Texts are indeed lifelines to adult children and grandchildren hundreds of miles away. Phone calls are harder to arrange with everyone's busy schedule. One thing that has changed over time is that I tend not to rush any season and savor whatever its unique aspects are without rushing ahead. Maybe that is because of my awareness that there are fewer minutes ahead than there once were. The chaos of the world in every direction and the growing spiritual darkness pull me to read and reflect on the One who holds us in His hand as each day the world becomes less predictable. Okay...I am rambling now and will stop with a long distance hug!!
ReplyDeleteDear Pam ... your comment was like a long, leisurely visit. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your heart ... I can just picture you in your red leather chair by the fire with goodies in hand.
DeleteAnd yes, 'Health rebuilding has been a focus.' That's where I am right now, too. It's my full priority and I am grateful to be in a place in life where I am able to shift gears and be pro-active, attentive, and full of hope.
What you said here is true -->'The chaos of the world in every direction and the growing spiritual darkness.' But I am not disturbed, surprisingly. I pay less attention to the news. We know who holds the future. And He is victorious.
I praise God for peace. And for dear friends like you from afar ...
I love this post, sweet friend! And, I love winter! The stillness and calmness just comforts me. I miss it when it is gone. I know that sounds crazy because most people can't wait for winter to be over, but I just savor it. It brings back so many precious memories to me.
ReplyDeleteYour optimistic and positive viewpoint is like a breath of fresh air for those of us who are starting to long for springtime, Cheryl!
Delete'The stillness and calmness just comforts me.'
Sweet music to my ears on this chilly morning!
Never thought about the difference between solitude and a hermit. Liked your description. Cute list. Was relating to so many of them. Except maybe sleeping with the window open. Every day above 40 degrees calls for a long walk here. Can hardly wait to be outside more.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Theresa! So glad that some of my random observations were relate-able!
DeleteMay this weekend bring us some of those walk-able temperatures ...
;-}
Linda, I love this post. I actually happen to like winter, but I live in the South. Fresh flowers and time with a friend over a cup of tea is perfect. It has been years since I have had a frosty from Wendy’s, maybe it is time! Happy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing springtime is beginning to bud and blossom for you, friend! I know we'll be catching some beautiful glimpses on your blog.
DeleteTalk about inspirational!!
Enjoy your day ...
Seems my 'saving my life' post this month is all about learning. It does wonders for the soul, doesn't it? Our son, who lives in Indiana, is the texter and I am so thankful for it. I never fail to smile when a text from him pops up on screen. Thanks for sharing your take-aways from the season. Always an interesting read. (and I usually learn something too!)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Debby. Learning does wonders for the soul. It keeps us propelled forward, gives us hope, wisdom, and renewed purpose.
DeleteSunday blessings to you, friend, down there in balmy Florida!
;-}
I loved this post Linda. I so agree with you about the Wendy's chocolate Frosty and can't turn those down (even though my expanding waistline tells me I should). Loved your idea about grabbing the kettle and inviting a friend over for a mug of tea. I wish I didn't always feel like the house needs to be spotless before I can do that! I open my windows too because sometimes I just have to have that fresh air and yes, I always sleep better when the windows are open.
ReplyDeleteI find myself wishing "winter" would last longer, though in all honesty, we haven't had much of a winter here at all here in the south. I find myself absolutely dreading how bad the bugs are going to be this spring. Ugh! We just haven't had much cold weather at all here and we rarely if ever get snow here anymore (we had a dusting a couple of weeks ago but it melted as quickly as it came). I miss snow and its beauty and now I even find myself missing getting cold weather. Mentally, I need COLD after our long hot and very humid summers.
Gail, good morning! Isn't it interesting how the weather impacts us ... readers up north are having a different experience and response than our friends down south.
DeleteEither way, I'm glad you're here. And here's to houses that aren't spotless, but whose doors are open!
Bless your Sunday, friend ...
Hmmmmm I have mixed feelings about winter. I love snow so i am disappointed about our snowless winter this year. Secondly, It is impossible to be a hermit when you have a dog that loves outdoors. Because of our outdoor ventures 3-4 times a day, I am hating the cold more and more and tolerating it less and less. I am still grateful for the good stress it provides my body (they say that about the cold plunge at the pool— Ha)
ReplyDeleteTexting is my entertainment when there are sons involved in my life. But we talk a lot too so we have a good balance.
I am a vanilla latte kind of girl and treat myself once a week...so grateful for the simple pleasures of this life so can you image what joys await on the New Earth? Revelations 21
That little cute pooch of yours keeps you hopping, doesn't he, Carol. Nothing like a cold plunge outdoors to make us want to rush right back inside to a warm, cozy room with plenty of quilts and something hot to drink.
DeleteAs to your last paragraph, all I can say is come quickly, Lord Jesus! We yearn for more of Your holy presence in our lives.
Yes, yes, and yes. I love all these tips for surviving winter. Ours hasn't been terribly cold, but it has been terribly wet! Rain all the time. When I have nowhere to go, I love it. But it seems in this season of my life I'm having to get out in it (and missing my times of solitude). Praying for grace to hold on until spring! Appreciate you, Linda!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Lisa. A stay-at-home day is sublime!
DeletePraying for that needed grace with you, for you ...
Ahhh, Linda. I found myself nodding at so many of your lessons learned. :) One of my sons currently works at Wendy's. But, he doesn't like sweet drinks (or cake or cookies or brownies . . . ), and I must avoid dairy. So, will you enjoy one for me?
ReplyDeleteMy other son chooses hermit-dom far too often. It's tough to get a 15 year old boy to engage with others, especially when he's an introvert. We're trying to find the balance between screens and rejuvenating himself and being a hermit cuz he'd rather be on a screen. Sigh.
Our winter has dragged on this year. We've had seven snow days (far more than the allotted amount for the school year) and many 2-hour delays. It would be kind of funny if it wasn't so crazy-making. Teenage boys at home with nothing to do does not equal pleasant. ;) I'm enjoying sunshine today though, and a walk is sounding mighty fine...
You are in your prime parenting years, aren't you, friend. And even as we speak, I'm lifting you up in prayer. This is not an easy task. But He is able.
DeleteMay your boys grow to be men of integrity, character, godliness.
I am so not the hermit type but this last year I have withdrawn more then I ever have. My doctor thinks it some of the meds I am on now , which she is probably right along with aging...I just wrote about it.
ReplyDeleteI am a frosty girl too...have you tried the one with cookie in it...yummy. Having a friend I can talk to who is safe is probably what I need most. Writing about my feelings helps me through those long spells. Even in southern Ca. winter has a drearing feel to it and drags at times. I am exciting to see some of the trees blooming. Great post Linda, lifted my spirits. thanks.
Oh, Betty, I'm so glad your spirits have been lifted here today. That's such an encouragement to me.
DeleteMay you find each day a little less drear. And yes, writing during those long spells is so therapeutic, isn't it, friend ...
So many good lessons, Linda. Amen to opening windows and going outside in the winter. I’m learning that tackling long overdue organizing/paperwork projects isn’t as intimidating once you start, and making progress in one area is helping me make progress in others. Happy March, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteWell this is sheer genius, Lois -->'tackling long overdue organizing/paperwork projects isn’t as intimidating once you start, and making progress in one area is helping me make progress in others.'
DeleteThat's a post right there, powerful and complete.
;-)
These are great tips for surviving winter! Getting outside definitely makes me feel better. After a lot of wet, windy weather it has been nice this week to have some cold, crisp, sunny days which make it a lot more pleasant!
ReplyDeleteI hope it's as beautiful today in England as it is here in New England!
Delete