Maybe you have seen this, but I love this idea of wintering. As women naturally prone to being productive and busy, we can feel guilty for sitting still.
It is during winter when I finally get the time needed to dedicate myself to my crafts. So I wasn’t too happy when I needed to stop making, but that down time proved valuable. After two weeks of really focusing on learning a new skill, I ran out of material and it took awhile to get more. In that forced break, I took a few days to just be still and to reflect on what I had been doing and where it was going. This wintering break allowed me some fresh perspective and I felt more confident when I returned to my making.
In general, wintering for me means quiet evenings and longer sleeps. The woods are silent except for the crows, woodpeckers and chickadees. The forest floor sealed beneath ice and snow. The trees resting in their nakedness. Simple meals and less housework give space for keeping the wood stove and generator fueled. Some days I long to be working outside, but give in when the cold pushes me back in.
Winter can feel so much slower than the rest of the year. Dark January days encourage us to curl up and rest, just like the wildlife nestled in their burrows emerging occasionally for provisions. No wonder we can feel pressured and stressed when we struggle through it instead of slowing down. Even with a busy schedule, there are things we can choose to put on hold to allow ourselves to be still for awhile.
As February begins, we celebrate the halfway mark between seasons. March will bring more light and more energy. We can emerge like the the buds and seeds, ready to blossom into our best selves. Wintering is accepting the season at hand and enjoying the respite. Tell me, are you fighting winter or leaning in?
Happy February and happy wintering.❤️
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