The seasons are equal in length, or so says the calendar. So why does winter seem so much longer? Why does this bleakest of the four seasons seem so stubborn to yield to its well-anticipated successor? Winter makes me think of the line from A Christmas Carol: Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.
Indeed, Scrooge may have developed a particular fondness for darkness, but most have a far greater appreciation for light. So, how can we shine some light on the darkened and truncated winter days ahead?
I have found the most effective way to combat the winter blues that tend to creep into our lives once the holiday joy passes is to switch up the old routine. For example, save your workout for after dinner if you’re typically a morning exerciser. If you awaken and enjoy coffee, it makes sense to appropriate another pleasure for the evening. The objective is to spread out our activities so we don’t go from the dinner table to the television, to bed, and then repeat the exact mundanity times ninety.
A nifty way to add some light to winter evenings after dinner is to take your significant other by the hand, lead them into the living room, put on some music, and dance. Aside from adding a novel pleasure to the repertoire, dancing can inspire intimacy. And if you ever had intended to do some scrapbooking, winter evenings are the perfect time. Lastly, don’t forget the benefit of a hand-in-hand moonlit stroll with your partner.
Anything you choose will be better than planting yourself in front of a television for all ninety days of what many allege is a season of gloom. If there ever was a season that beckons us to summon our creativity, it’s winter. So have fun, be creative, and share your ideas with friends. I’ll see you in the spring!
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