The age-old refrain, “Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day,” plays on repeat as I rush, soaked from the sideways windy rain, to the car. I banter back in my own head, “Winter, winter, go away! Come again another day!”
I have no answer, really, to the question, “What’s your favorite season?” They are all my favorites – when they arrive! I love the bursts of color as winter gives way to spring, the first day it is hot enough to turn the car into an oven, the stretching shadows as summer fades to fall, and the first breath that hangs frozen in winter.
But then, I love to say good-bye when it’s time. The gray skies of winter feel heavy on my shoulders. Alternately, the heat of summer will stifle my heart.
I find myself regularly looking forward to the next season, instead of enjoying the beauty in the moments of the current one.
In Emily P. Freeman’s book, Simply Tuesday, she writes, “When I get caught up in the planning for later, it helps to sit on a bench and remember where I am. I pull out my journal and at the top I write five words: These are the days of…”
Winter. These have been the days of…
Waking before dawn.
Learning to be a librarian.
Conversations with an almost teenager.
Intermittent fasting.
Wishing for more time and better weather for outside walks.
Evening writing until I’ve left a dent in the couch cushions.
Eating out more than eating in.
Extra doses of Vitamin C and Elderberry.
Standing dates with my laptop each Monday and Tuesday evening.
It calms my heart to call it what it is. A season.
As has become my custom, I’ve kept track of what I’ve learned this season.
Author’s Notes and Epilogues
Reading the author’s note or the Epilogue at the end of a book is one of my favorite parts of reading a book! Knowing even a quick synopsis of what has happened in the future somehow completes the story for me. Reading who a person thanks and how it gives insight to their hearts and their writing process. Witness Protection by Jake Burt and Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins are perfect examples. Maybe I’ve always felt this way, but I’m just now thinking about my thinking enough to realize it.
Writing and Speaking Words
Writing doesn’t require me to think on my feet! And that’s one of the reasons I like writing it best, right now! I had the opportunity to be interviewed recently for a podcast (more details coming soon!!). After thinking through what I said during the interview, I thought of 100 things I should have said or would have said if I’d known the questions before, or phrases I used that I would change. I hear myself say to kids all the time to keep practicing because no one does things perfectly the first time every time. Maybe I should listen to my own advice!
Cucumbers
I am still allergic to cucumber. I did my first ever juice cleanse – 3 days of cold pressed juice and chicken broth. Turns out, I haven’t outgrown that pesky cucumber allergy. So, after a day of an on-fire throat, tingly lips and itchy ears way down deep, I realized what was happening, set that type of juice aside and quickly grabbed a couple of Benadryl. I think I’ll do it again sans cucumber!
Stretching
Morning stretching both wakes my mind when I’m sleepy and calms it when I wake up spinning. I start with my neck and work down. Often, I do a few movements to work the major muscle groups. I work through using counts of eight. Somehow the repetitive counting and focus on my breathing and each muscle group focuses my brain. Without my morning rhythms, I notice my brain goes into overdrive as I got ready for the day – it likes to look for reasons to be stressed!
Tortoises
Tortoises – the kind that can grow to over 100 lbs – tend to stop growing when they can’t see outside their enclosure. To continue growing, they must be able to see their surroundings, to peek through the wooden slats. I think it’s true for human growth, too! If we can only see our small enclosure – our own circumstances, our own classroom, our own situation – we won’t be able to grow. I tend to hibernate in the winter, and I’m ready to see outside my own enclosure!
What about you, my friends? What have you learned this season? Even though it’s not TECHNICALLY spring until the end of March, are you ready?
Hugs and Blessings (and happy ALMOST spring)! – Bethany
You certainly gave me a lot to think about today. I’ve never practiced lent but between your writing and they mentioned it on TV, Ronnie started looking it up and we have been reading a lot about lent. It is interesting. Growing up in a missionary baptist church, we didn’t practice lent. Maybe we should practice a form of lent all the time. Like giving up some tv watching and replace it with some bible study and more praying. Couldn’t hurt. 😁 🙏🏼
So true Bethany! I was just thinking this morning of what I will miss when winter is done. I will miss the toasty space heater in my bathroom that makes me happy as soon as it turns on. I will miss watching the occasional fire in the fireplace as I relax at the end of a busy day. I will miss comfy sweatshirts and cozy sweaters. Thanks for the reminder of taking note of what you learn in the season. Today I learned to be thankful for the cool morning as I look forward to the spring!
All of those things sound like wonderful parts of winter! Hugs, sweet friend!
I love the info about tortoises. I feel like my word for this year is grow and that gives me a new perspective on it. Thanks for sharing!
Isn’t it interesting?! I felt like it was one of those tidbits I could just keep learning from the more I thought about it! 🙂 Hugs!