As a girl who was born and raised in Indiana, I have come to look forward to days spent in the sun. The beach is at the top of my travel list, and every year as the weather gets colder I find myself cursing the cold temperatures found in the Midwest.
I know it could be much worse, but living with -16-degree weather surrounded by snow that looks like black mush after a few days is anything but my ideal day. However, every year there are a few things I look forward to about the few months I have to spend in the cold.
Ice Skating
My all-time favorite activity during the winter is Ice Skating. I know, at least in the Midwest, you can go all year around in indoor rinks, but there is just something about being able to put on a pair of skates and gliding over the ice. Every time I go I manage to fall a few times, but for me it’s just part of the experience. I am nowhere as graceful as professional figure skaters, but I’ve managed to pick up a few tricks over the years and I look forward to getting a group of friends together to go every year.
Warm Drinks
There is nothing like a nice cold drink on a hot summer day, but in the winter, that just makes me feel even colder. However, the best thing for a freezing cold day is a nice cup of hot chocolate, or for my mom and I a cup of Chai Tea from Starbucks! It’s the perfect thing to chase the chill away after being outside for as long as I can manage.
Fires
I’ve always loved to watch fires. The flames dancing as the wood turns to ash has always fascinated me. There is a beauty that contrasts the destruction fire can bring, but yet there is also a sense of rebirth. A phoenix rises from the ashes and in nature life manages to come back stronger from the ashes of a wildfire. The fact that it helps keep me warm in the winter only adds to how much I appreciate fire! The blues, oranges, yellows, and reds make a fire easy to watch and growing up with family that have real fireplaces and wood stoves make you appreciate how warm a house can be with the addition of a well-kept fire.
The Holidays
No matter which holiday you choose to celebrate, each seems to bring forth a sense of family and love. I’ve celebrated Christmas my whole live and I look forward to the simple traditions and the excuse to get together with my family every year. Another favorite is New Year’s Eve. I’ve celebrated many different ways over the years. From babysitting to weddings to just being with friends, each year I find myself looking back on the year with appreciation for the lessons I’ve learned and looking forward to the new year for the next set of adventures I will experience.
The Perfect Snowfall
Those that are around me as winter approaches know that I refer to snow as the S-word and refuse to acknowledge is as a possibility for the upcoming winter. After a few hours, the snow turns grey and is destroyed by footprints and snow shovels. However, the perfect snowfall is something even I look forward to. The larch clumps of snow that fall slowly and coat the ground are the best to watch. I tend to watch from the comfort of my couch wrapped up in a blanket, but I still love to sit and admire the simplicity of such a beautiful sight.
Overall, I can manage winter in small doses, but these things made it bearable enough to make it through a few months of cold. After all, as soon as the temperature reaches 60 I’m usually found in shorts.
