Call it a quirk of ours, but we positively do not like cold wind, cold showers, cold calls, cold toilet seats, cold feet (either kind!) and especially cold weather. Aren’t humans tropical creatures? Winters are always a challenge for us--we work hard to survive the wintery months and hibernation can be a tempting lover.
While we don’t experience snow very often, we view snow as a four-letter word. We both had plenty of snow growing up, and we happily live in the South for a reason. That isn’t to say we don’t feel cold here because we do. And since cold weather season typically lasts over ninety days, we must do that “layer up, button up, and bone up” thing. We’re just a couple of frosty folks looking for seasonal warmth, or at least keep our minds off the cold. But one nice thing about winter is you can count on it--it’s inevitable.
Healthy trees brace for winter giving their leaves to fall, then in winter channel energy into roots preparing for spring. (Click here to watch our song video “Songs That Never End (Instrumental)”
Birds flock to review their winter flight plans south. Even baseball teams kiss northern winter goodbye to embrace the southern warmth of spring camp. And us? We suck it up and try to do something positive about it. Here are a few ideas:
Do Stuff: We go to the gym or walk inside a mall where people watching can be amusing (all shapes and sizes). We just stroll past the stores trying not to spend money just because we happen to be there. We also check the weather—a lot! Then when the sun pops out, we layer up and go out for a walk outside. Inside fun: shoot some pool, go bowling or play ping pong.
Planning: Inclement weather also allows us plenty of time to hunker down and do some planning and goal setting. Humans of all ages need goals, Remember Brian Tracy, the self-development guru? Per Brian, goals are very important…goals “give you focus…let you measure progress…help you stay motivated….help you beat procrastination…help you achieve more…and help you determine what you want in life...” Bottom line, goals help keep the spirit alive and thriving! (Check out our article from a few years ago “To Resolve Or not to Resolve - That Is The Question.” )
Bill: Think I’ll plan on procrastinating procrastination.
Learn and Improve: Have you been interested in a subject but never took the time to learn it? Did you know that Georgia residents 62 and older can sign up for courses in any of the 31 colleges and universities in the state system and attend without paying tuition? (Click here for more info)
Bill: I can try out some new licks on my guitar and maybe master a few photo techniques with my camera. Maybe I’ll rehearse my spontaneous cleverness. Good today--even better tomorrow. That way when someone asks,” How Ya doin’?” I can say, “Better!” (Remember the tree that channels energy back into its roots during the winter?)
Sheri: And once I get tax preparation done, I know I can always find a half-written song or two that needs my attention.
New Places and New Friends: One winter’s eve we warmed up in Fernbank Museum. There at Music and Imax we danced with our new old friend Rex. Although carnivorous, Rex thankfully didn’t see us as a menu item.
Then a few years ago, we met up with our new close personal friends, Jake and Elwood in Chicago. They were both very accommodating and saved us a seat. (They said something about being on a mission...Chicago has never been the same.)
And how about a nice dinner out? Bet you have a few local favorite restaurants that are perfect for an evening out with friends and maybe sit back and enjoy some local musicians.
Dream—Or Actually Leave! Right smack in the middle of the cold season, we almost always lose patience with winter. And when we can’t go anywhere warm, we “bi-locate”—that is, we go someplace warm in our minds while our bodies are still at home. No, we aren’t on drugs, we are just reliving some happy warm times together! (Click here to watch our “Favorite Memory” song video) As photographers, we have lots of photos from past trips to help keep those memories alive.
But when we actually do get out of Dodge, our favorite winter escape is cruising. We try to take a cruise every January or February in search of balmy 70 to 80 temperatures. We have a week of blissful sailing to warmer lands, basking in the sun, checking out different cultures and foods, enjoying lots of entertainment at our fingertips, and making new friends along the way. Did we mention we like cruising?
So….in retrospect, maybe winter is not so bad: In December we have the holidays to keep us busy, and then in January and February, we try to keep a full schedule in hopes of coasting through the rest Winter. We just need to remember to move our butts, learn new stuff, improve our skills, see new places, make new friends, and dream and plan (and experience!) our next adventure. That will get us ready to “rock and roll” right into Spring!
“One can follow the sun, of course, but I have always thought that it is best to know some winter, too, so that the summer, when it arrives, is the more gratefully received.” — Beatriz Williams, “Along the Infinite Sea”
Positively Speaking, “Sheri & Bill...Story Tellers in Word, Image and Song.”
p.s. Here are a few great indoor events around Atlanta area worth checking out:
InOurView.com offers a collection of blog articles, original photography and original folk pop songs inspired by everyday life from a positive view.
Comments