Winter's Last Call

I feel like Winter and Spring are in a thumb war; Winter holding strong to its post while Spring tries to take its place. Today, Winter won—and it has my full support. It was a moody gray sky, pregnant with rain, and chilly—the kind of day that beckons for grilled cheese and tomato soup. Still, sweater weather is coming to an end, and I’ll be sorry to see it go. I know that’s not a popular opinion, but perhaps I can persuade you to throw Winter a bone.

True, it may feel melancholy, long, and maybe even a little lonely. But it also reminds us to trust that the hardest seasons don’t last forever, and that Spring’s abundance takes root in the quiet of Winter. If you’re busy wishing it away, you won’t learn to appreciate its gifts—particularly the opportunity to pause. If you can’t be present when the world is quiet and distractions are few, it’s much harder to stay grounded when life fills back up with color and a busy flow.

In her poem “Invitation, Mary Oliver writes (Full poem available here [https://readalittlepoetry.com/2023/12/24/invitation-by-mary-oliver/].), about the importance of taking a moment to notice what’s right in front of us.

“Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy…”

“…I beg of you,
do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this…”
                       
Spring won’t be interrupted by remnants of Winter’s chill for long. But when it finally does go, carry its lesson forward—and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.