Being: Conscious, mortal existence; life.
Every month we welcome two families, two people, two voices to share their stories in whatever way they choose. This month, as we prepare to launch the spring edition of the Rhythm of the Home magazine, we have asked a handful of former Being contributors to return with reflections on life in winter. We hope that you find joy in their daily lives, and their simple habit of just being.
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I love winter.
I’m not sure how people organize their lives if they don’t have distinct seasons. I wonder if I would pay as close attention to the world around me if it wasn’t constantly changing.
Summer seems focused outward: toward the outdoors, travel, exploring, meeting friends. Winter seems focused inward: toward home, family, the faces across the candle-lit dinner table.
I don’t just burrow into my home in the winter; I burrow into myself. I draw the curtains and consider my thoughts.
Like the birds and animals in our woods, we catch that first cold wind and treat it as a signal to withdraw to warmth and safety. The house is thoroughly cleaned and the garden is tucked away under its blanket of mulch. The bicycles and kayaks are put away and the sleds are brought out of the barn.
The hawks and owls sit in the top branches of the leafless trees with a clear view of the woods and fields. Winter gives me that same unobstructed view. I look back at the year that was and ahead at the year that will be, and I make plans.
We talk about what we want to accomplish over the cold months and they seem swept clean and bare — a clean surface for building something new. Winter is, for us, a time of anticipation and excitement. Outside, everything is dormant, waiting to burst forth in a few months. Our projects seem the same. We are planting seeds and looking forward to a rich harvest.
I love winter. I love those swept-clean months and those new plans. I love the snow and the frozen creek and the winter hikes where the stag who hides all summer can be seen standing in full view.
Winter is always revealing something. It’s taught me to pay attention, because I want to see what it has to show me.
We are so very pleased to welcome Lori Pickert back to the blog today! Lori is an educator, writer, and mother of two, as well as the author of Project-Based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners. Lori’s popular blog has become a go-to resource for many, many families interested in finding ways to encourage their children to become passionate and creative thinkers. Check it out!
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Rhythm of the Home is an online magazine for families that focuses on creating with children, nature explorations, seasonal celebrations, conscious parenting, and mindfulness in all that we do. To learn more about us, please visit us on Facebook,Pinterest, and Twitter.
We welcome new submissions for our upcoming seasons. To learn more about submitting, please visit our magazine.
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thank you so much for the invitation and for the kind words! xoxoxo
Brr. That photo of all that flatness (midwestern winter, to be sure!) with the photographer’s shadow–it’s making me shiver.
We have more unobstructed views than usual here in the woodsy, snowy northeast thanks to more trees getting knocked down by winds during the recent blizzard. Now I can *see* the squirrels as they plan their raids on the bird feeder.
there is just something crisp and fresh about winter — the winds scour everything away!
As someone who lives where the seasonal shifts are very subtle, you have to pay much better attention to the world around you. The weather is not quite so obvious, and if you don’t slow down to notice, you miss the change completely. For us, winter is a time to get outdoors. The weather is gorgeous and most days are spent enjoying it. Come summer, we turn inward to stay cool and enjoy the internal introspection.
i don’t have to be as mindful because my seasonal changes smack me in the face. ;o)
we go out every day in the winter and i love how *hard* it is to walk and play in snow and wind. we can’t be out as long, but it sure makes an impression.
“Come summer, we turn inward to stay cool and enjoy the internal introspection.” <3
Oh my goodness this made me feel so good about winter! I like that you view this as an exciting time for making plans. I loved where you wrote “We talk about what we want to accomplish over the cold months and they seem swept clean and bare — a clean surface for building something new. ” Also, your photos are absolutely gorgeous!
thank you, teri!
yay! i’ve discovered another winter fan. and i must say, having moved to south louisiana from montreal, I MISS WINTER.
also, love wyeth’s thoughts on winter so i’ll take the liberty and share them here in the hopes they strike a chord with someone else:
“I prefer winter and fall, when you can feel the bone structure in the landscape—the lonliness of it—the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it—the whole story dosen’t show.”
― Andrew Wyeth
amanda, we are truly kindred spirits if we both love winter.
love love the wyeth quote — one of my favorite artists!
What a beautiful post. I understand completely and can relate to the change of seasons. Winter is for hibernating, looking at yourself and making plans.
Every season is beautiful in my eyes and brings different focus.
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