TEN THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT… WINTER & NEW YEAR

Today happens to be #BlueMonday but here I am celebrating the good things that come from this cold and sometimes miserable time of year.

Autumn and Winter are my favourite times of year. Yes, it might be darker and colder for more of the daytime but I relish that fact and welcome it with open arms. When there is a chill in the air, I am happy.

In 2020 I am determined to focus on the positives of an ever changing life. Having a chronic illness means that there are fluctuations, and they can happen without warning; you must adapt. And year to year, things do look and feel different. While we can grieve the passing of previous routinely joys – such as a long holiday aboard in the summer or being able to attend all and every festive party – I choose to look to see the good within the ‘bad’ that has come and gone.

Ten things I love about Winter & New Year

  • The crisp fresh air in the morning  – Wrapped up in layers and a coat, breathing in that cool and wonderful cold air of a winter’s day.
  • Walks through the snow – What is it about the crunch of snow under foot that bring so much joy? Even a light dusting, gives me a jingle of joy that can’t be substituted.
  • Starting a new tradition – Missing the familiarity of routine from childhood? Create your own traditions around Christmas and New Year to make it feel your own.
  • Really beautiful sunrises and sunsets – Clear nights bring about the crisp and focused bright mornings and along with them; amazingly colourful sunrises. Like wise, a clear day will bring around a great sunset; full of reds and ambers. Case in point below: 
  • It’s the best time of year for comfort food – the smell of a roast dinner has to be my favourite thing about winter and those cold months of the year. The comfort of gravy and potatoes with cooked meat… heaven.
  • Cleaning out  –  Christmas always brings alot of gifts into the house, so I somewhat naturally do a ‘winter spring clean’. Here is where I organise alot of the previous year: from letters, receipts and achieve emails, to clean rooms and get rid of junk or tat by make donations to charity shops. But my favourite clean out is that of the freezer; magical meals come from a good ol’ tidy session.
  • Feeling like it’s acceptable to wear pyjamas as soon as you get home from work, because its dark – for me, this is an all year plan; as soon as I am home, I’m out of my work clothes and in my comfies. But even more so in the winter, I add a blanket – or my slanket – sometimes Newton [pictured below] contributes to the comfy levels.
  • Planning a trip – Along side the cleaning aspect, I also love planning a trip. Even a small one, gives me something on the books to look forward to. The new year also signals new annual leave allowance and birthdays to plan for; this year also gives me time off from studying too.
  • The smell – At some point one day, you realise you can actually smell the cold. It’s a clean, vivid smell which travels down your airways and straight into your lungs and head, making you feel suddenly alive. There’s something a bit like peppermint or eucalyptus to it, but these are pale imitators of the real thing.  
  • Starting a new book – January begins a new Reading Challenge so I always start off my year with a TBR – To Be Read – pile and this year was no exception! I have more than enough to keep me busy, and more than enough on top of my challenge of 52 books in 2020 – one per week!
You can follow my #2020ReadingChallenge on my Goodreads page here

What do you love about Winter? Can you find positives from the possible negatives of this time of year?

Do you have any questions or queries? Or just want to share your own experiences?

You can leave me a reply here or comment via my social media accounts – on Twitter, find my blog page on Facebook and over on Instagram

If you enjoyed this post check out Surviving the Winter with a Ostomy: A Guide and 10 Festive Tips for Eating and Enjoying Yourself at Christmas with an Ostomy.

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