Thriving In Winter

Tailoring our lifestyles to the different seasons is an opportunity for a deep, rich experience of life. When we respect the natural rhythms surrounding us, we acknowledge that not every time of the year is the same. Everything around us exists in cycles, and this is something we can count on- season after season, year after year.

Living more in harmony with the seasons is a very grounding practice for us as human beings. It ties to us to the wisdom of the earth, and to the wisdom of those who came before us. It keeps us happy and healthy.

Respecting nature’s cycles and seasonal changes enables us to have greater periods of exertion, followed by greater periods of rest. Summer is our time to stay up late, be more social, and have a very high activity level. It is the time to do this simply because we have so much more sunlight and warmth.

In contrast, during the darkest days of the year, our natural rhythms (if we were living as our ancestors did), would be to slow down and rest. If we were agricultural, the labor intensive work of the harvest would be over, and the early setting of the sun (without electric lights) would mean more sleep.

Our diets would change (based on what was available and stored or preserved)  and our clothing, by necessity, would change as well.

I think that many of us are still drawn to generally slowing down in Winter. Unfortunately, our cultural imperative is that we continue to live like it’s Summer all year long. We are encouraged to be busy, to over-schedule, and to push ourselves, regardless of the fact that this is nature’s time to rest, and that if we look outside this is happening all around us.

We are not isolated from the natural world. We co-evolved with it. If we look to nature for cues, we see that animals are hibernating, and plants have died back, storing energy in their roots in anticipation of regeneration in Spring. What nature needs to rejuvenate, we also need. Restoration of our bodies and minds is essential now, so that we too, may regrow, blossom, and be our best, vibrant selves in the Spring.

Often, when we don’t respect our need to slow down in Winter, we get sick.

I’m giving you permission to say “no” to extra commitments now, to come home early, to put on your pajamas, eat soup and drink tea, and HIBERNATE…. to light candles, turn off your lights, shut down your devices, and just BE…to be close to the ones you hold dear…

How many times during the course of the year do we have the chance to just slow down?  Let’s all take advantage of it as the beautiful opportunity it is.