Winter by Sheila Young Well, and it pains me to say it but I feel the summer has gone, and although I'm still reluctant to grab my winter coat and brolly I am still wearing flip flops occasionally even though my feet sometimes turn blue. I'm in it for the long haul so may as well grin and bare it. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons as I explained in my last adage to spring, but I absolutely love the winter months best of all. As the dark nights start to creep in instead of feeling gloomy as I peer through the glass of the train windows to see where I'm at, which is very difficult when it's so dark they become like mirrors, I admit it's handy to catch a glimpse of my tired face in time to straighten up my hair, unglue my face from it's position sliding down the same glass I'm now trying to stare through. I generally rearrange myself as though I hadn't just fallen asleep. There's actually something very majestic about that velvet darkness that tells me my day is over and rest begins, well after I cook dinner and clear away, rest begins. A bit like it is with the seasons I suppose. If autumn is the earth changing into her night wear, whether that be a little black slinky number or cosy PJs, a snugly dressing gown and Ugg slippers, she's ready for slumber. I love this analogy it makes me feels lighter somehow, not depressed that shorter days and colder weather is upon us, but more relaxed about the whole thing. The earth needs repose, needs her beauty sleep, same as the rest of us. The rain represents washing away of debris, much like me washing my face of makeup and pollutants from working in London. Dew and snow are the night cream she uses to freshen and hydrate during her long sleep. And don't get me started on Christmas , ...... Ooooh did someone say Christmas. I love it. I start buying gifts as early as August. I know I'm sad!!! But any particular religious beliefs aside I feel Christmas and the winter months represent giving. I get immense joy from seeing people I care for opening a gift I've searched long and hard for. Watching the smile spread across their face, as they clutch that much coveted present . Natures the same when you think of it, supermarkets aside, if we went back to caveman days nature provided all we needed, berries, water, nuts, meat, shelter even medicinal herbs - dock leaves next to stinging nettles as an example. We've evolved and forgotten where to look. That's why I smile when I see snow, now I have proper snow boots to walk in. Before that it was much more of a grimace. My husband works long hours and leaves the house at 4 am. I leave at around 6am and it always makes me chuckle to follow his footsteps from our front door sometimes as much as half way to the station. Hilariously trying to put my footprint inside his. Quite tricky as he has much longer legs and therefore a bigger stride. I bet some of my neighbours have a giggle if they’re watching beneath a twitchy curtain. Anyway all that frosty coldness, makes me fancy porridge and honey and snuggling up with my latest book. That perhaps juvenile outlook is what keeps me positive through the cold months. I did say I was a large child. it would be so easy to let these little things bring me down and make me gloomy. I leave home it's dark. I leave work it's dark! When I first moved from outer London to the Kent countryside, it was 3 or 4 months of going back and forth to work that I even knew I passed crazy red poppy fields, rape seed oil in all it's glorious golden yellows, cows, sheep and horses grazing away happily and I'd been oblivious to it all in my mirrored train carriage. I fell over last year and bruised my bottom and hip so badly I couldn't sit properly for a week. Hence the snow boots! Having the proper tools for any job makes it less of a task. So don't moan about it being cold, if your still wearing a summer coat. Or about slipping about in your Louboutins, when it's icy outside. We all sometimes go about our daily lives oblivious to the wonderful changes that take place in nature and the universe everyday. Observing life, just stopping to see the upside of every situation can just help us through the tough times. Sometimes that light at the end if the tunnel is what makes the difference between success and failure. So next time it's raining cats and dogs or starting to snow, dress accordingly, smile or grimace! And change the way you see things trust me it takes far less energy. I love looking out on snow covered ground, at ice blue sky, especially when I'm cosy either outside wrapped up or inside with a mug of hot chocolate. I know the earth is sleeping. She has her face cream on and is deep in slumber. So I'll get on with it and enjoy the positives. I’ll wrap fairy lights around everything as they remind me to see the magic in the world, to look on the brighter side of life. And sometimes when it's really cold and winter is well and truly taken hold, I'll do something bonkers and spend time with two of my favourite men - Ben and Jerry, just to remind me not to take life so seriously .
