Embracing Winter's Wisdom
Winter Tree through Back Door
The winter season is coming upon us and I can feel myself going into my familiar patterns of hibernation. I don’t like the colder weather and the shorter days - they signal what I know is to come - seasonal depression. My seasonal depression layers onto my chronic depression like a weighted blanket and it is kicking my butt. This year, I want to be more intentional and mindful about my hibernation. Just like nature, we all have seasons, so much of the time I try to ignore it, as if there is something bad about allowing my body to do what it is designed to do.
I spent time this year watching my neighbor’s majestic tree change with the seasons. In the Spring, its buds, little tiny specks of green amongst the brown and grey, were coming back and the leaves were starting to open. In the Summer it provided shade for whoever wanted it with its big, succulent leaves. Fall, of course, in all its glorious color, getting ready to shed its leaves. And then there’s winter - the leaves are gone, the tree is bare. It looks sad and yet still looks majestic. How can it be both sad and majestic? It is doing what it’s supposed to do - it is following its nature. The tree is resting and saving its energy for when its leaves start budding again. This tree doesn’t have to think about what it does, it just does it. It’s natural. Why, then, do I beat myself up over taking the time to rest and restore my energy? I want to be able to enjoy the peace, quiet, and solitude without feeling like I am doing something wrong.
Following the tree’s wisdom, finding a way to follow my own rhythm is necessary in order to live my life vibrantly. That tree stands strong no matter what. Nor does it care what the other trees think of it. Following my rhythm doesn’t mean I am weak or lazy. It means I am laying fallow to gather my energy to bloom in the Spring.
Laying fallow doesn’t mean doing nothing. Even in dormancy trees are constantly doing something. My dormancy is about laying a foundation for the year to come. What do I want it to look like? How will I make it happen for myself? It is getting my house in order. It’s a time of contemplation and introspection. So much of my year is spent on all the external stuff that needs attention that I forget that contemplation and introspection are just as important. This is what the winter months remind me to do.
For me, part of being intentional during this season of hibernation is to create rituals to help me slow down and honor the winter. Creating an atmosphere of warmth and coziness and peace. Lighting candles, making tea or hot chocolate. Taking the time to read a good book. Listen to some calming music. Curling up under a warm blanket. My house doesn’t have a fireplace and if it did I would be sitting in front of it. I love the smell of a wood fire; it reminds me of sitting in the ski lodge drinking hot chocolate when I was a kid.
Candle light
Lately, I have been fascinated by how the Scandinavian countries approach the winter months. They don’t seem to dread them. In fact, they seem to relish them and lean into them. Their attitudes seem to be one of acceptance rather than rejection.
The concepts of Hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah"), Koselig (pronounced “ko-sell-lee"), and Mys (pronounced “müs”) from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden respectively, emphasize the importance of well-being, comfort, and appreciating life's simple pleasures during the winter months. These cultures seem to have mastered the art of leaning into the season rather than resisting it. Each, in their own way, celebrating the slowing of the season and taking time to rejuvenate. Makes me wish I were Scandinavian. All three focus on coziness and finding ways to enjoy the winter season instead of just tolerating it. They all promote well-being, comfort, and appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. Nowadays, I feel like I just tolerate winter, waiting for spring to arrive. There’s a reason for winter. We are not meant to just go, go, go. Eventually that catches up to us and we burn out. I wish there was a guidebook telling us how to lean into this season of slowing down. I know that it will look different for each of us. I just wish I had an easy answer to leaning in without letting my depression overtake me.
What if it weren’t about production? What if it were about humanization? Being happy with the here and now; not worrying about the future. Living each day as if it is unique and wonderful, even if we are doing the same thing we did the day before. We can’t pretend that it’s all new, however we can make the old seem special. Like trying out a new recipe you have had your eye on and have been looking for an excuse to make.
I have never been much of a cook and it is a daunting endeavor for me. I would rather do anything else but cook. So much of what I imagine as slowing down and leaning into this season has to do with smells. I imagine the house smelling like fresh baked bread, cookies, and hearty soups.
I’ve got the snuggling under cozy blankets down. I want to be adaptable to whatever comes my way, including the changing of seasons. The belief of embracing the seasons seems to be the key into making it through them. Winter has always been the hardest season for me to embrace. Remembering the warm fires, the cozy blankets, and the rich smells from cooking make it a bit easier to embrace.
In a world that often encourages constant activity, leaning into the season of slowing down becomes a radical act of self-care. As I learn to embrace winter's wisdom, I hope to discover the art of making the extraordinary out of the ordinary and finding joy in the everyday moments.
Martha Treder
Soul-Searcher | Activist
I have always valued community and cultivating connections. I’ve been reflecting on my next steps and part of that is sharing my thoughts and journey. It’s not just about my story; it’s about creating a community where we can all connect, support each other, and grow together.