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Winter is the Most Instructive Season of Life

Winter is a time for rest, stillness and reflection.

In the ancient world, people lit fires to mark the turning of the light into winter’s darkness and to pray for the return of the light. Light brought safety and security for mere survival. Light was the security blanket in a dangerous world.

Photo by Tom Greene

We adapted this ancient practice as a symbolic gesture. We use candles today to provide light, but also to soothe us. It’s as if our brains see the soft illumination and smell the burning wax and are immediately more calm and aware.

One need only stare into a flame to be totally mesmerized by it’s wonder and constant changing form, light and color. That soft illumination whispers to us. It stimulates those parts of the brain that are home to emotion and memory.

Try staring at the flame below for 30 seconds and see if you feel calmer. We’ll wait….

Courtesy: David Tomaseti

That’s why the soft light of a candle is often used for meditation and prayer. To quiet the mind. To awaken the soul. To remind us of things greater than ourselves.

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The Seasons

Each season holds meaning in our lives. Some seasons, like spring and summer, create energy with their abundant light.

Fabrice Villard

Winter is a time for the plants and animals to go into survival mode. The trees shed their leaves and prepare for the storms of winter. The animals store up food or hibernate. 

Are you a winter person or a summer person?

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Oddly enough, even in the harshest of winters, neither the plants or the animals seem to be bothered by the cold or the darkness.

We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again”.

Katherine May

The plants and animals instinctively know that this is not the end of life, but simply a part of life. A time to replenish. A season to be experienced and not merely survived. And, that they may evolve stronger in the spring when the sky clears and the birds chirp and the green shoots appear.

Courtesy: Fabian Marco

Winter is a necessary part of life. A time for rest, stillness and reflection. An opportunity to grow in the midst of uncertainty.  During these months of cold and darkness the trees shed their leaves.

Definition of wintering: The act of withdrawing from the world to focus on one’s inner world; active acceptance of dark and cold times; a form of calm resilience.

They reserve all their energy and slow their growth. They lean into the wind and blanket their branches in snow. They patiently lean in to the peace and stillness for survival.

Courtesy: Michael & Diane Weidner

We tend to see winter as the end of something. Perhaps we should see winter as a beginning. See, the winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun. It’s the darkest day of the entire year. Yet, even on this darkest of days, the sun still shines in the sky.

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But, often times, it’s difficult for us to anticipate the light. Like the first glimmer of a sunrise in the darkness. You must look away to even see it. Even though we know that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the light always returns.

Courtesy of Thomas Harris, Gusto, Alabama

But, what can the darkness of winter teach us about life; about struggle and about survival?

British writer Katherine May is the author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.

May eloquently argues that, like winter, challenging periods of life are natural and inevitable.

She argues that these are the most instructive seasons of life. That winter is meant to be experienced, not merely survived. That we ought not travel through the darkest and coldest of times simply awaiting the change in seasons. But, instead, seek to lean into the darkness and discern the lesson of the season. The very alchemy of life.

Definition of wintering: The act of withdrawing from the world to focus on one’s inner world; active acceptance of dark and cold times; a form of calm resilience.

For May, wintering is not a season. It’s a metaphor for life. “It is a fallow period”. 

May writes eloquently that the “plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives they lived in the summer.” They simply prepare; they adapt and they withdraw, only to come back, rested, replenished and refreshed in the spring. See, it’s the darkest days of winter that make spring so powerful.  

We used to understand this. Back when Sunday was a day of rest. Back in a time before cell phones and streaming video and email and endless cat videos. Back when stores closed, church was a weekly ritual, families gathered and work was postponed. As a reminder of what Sunday felt like, watch this short clip from The Andy Griffith Show below. The episode is called Man in a Hurry. It was originally aired in the depths of winter. on January 14, 1963.

I wonder if people felt more refreshed on Monday, knowing they had tuned out the world and it’s unceasing demands for a few hours. And, sat on the porch with a friend singing The Little Brown Church in the Wood after Sunday lunch. Methinks the answer is yes.

The darkness of winter is harder in times of loss, confusion and struggle. I recently had a conversation with a friend who lost his son to suicide. It was a gut-wrenching conversation. He’s deep into the winter; the darkness.

But, after a lengthy period of excruciating pain, he is approaching a personal solstice; a turning point. He’s starting to see the green shoots. That little touch of life. That little bit of light that says, “hold on, spring is coming”. He won’t ever be rid of his pain. He won’t ever forget his son. But, he will learn that the light always comes, slowly, eventually, to replace the darkness.

The light that comes in spring breathes life into all living things. The plants, the trees, the animals. They awaken with the energy of resilience, having survived the fallow period.

May you find time to pause in the darkness of winter. To celebrate a solstice, of sorts, as you await the light. To evolve stronger when the sky clears and the birds chirp and the green shoots appear. Rested, resilient and ready to begin afresh, empowered by the light.

I’d like to chat with you. What is your favorite thing about winter? I read and respond to every single comment so I guarantee you’ll hear back from me.

If you’re a first time reader, please know that I work hard to write insightful and open-minded pieces that help you see the world with greater clarity. Just good writing to help you live a more insightful and fulfilling life. I hope you’ll join us on the journey.

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Roman Walley • 5 months ago

I really enjoyed this article. I too am a winter baby, born in November in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. I remember winters with a mixture of emotions. The quiet solitude of hearing the wind howl outside, while we hunkered down by the fire, or worked on a massive puzzle. I have been through many winters in my life, losing 5 members of my family in 10 years and then 5 years later, losing my first granddaughter. Lost my first wife to cancer. Now as I approach 70, I am able to see the lessons these hard seasons taught me. As I have said to the young men I mentor at our non-profit, the shadows in life are what give you depth as a person. What do we call someone who has no clue: Shallow. Because they don’t have the shadow to provide the depth of experience, feeling, learning and healing.  
 
Thanks Tom. Beautiful job.

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Tom Greene • 5 months ago

Wow. Just wow, Roman. You’ve been through an awful lot. “The shadows in life are what give you depth.” That is profound. I wrote this piece a while ago entitled Uncertainty is a Blessing. It seems appropriate to share. Thank you so much for reading my stuff and for reaching out. Please stay in touch.  
 
https://witwisdom.tomgreene.com/p/uncertainty-blessing 
 
Tom

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Elizabeth Kray • 6 months ago

I’ve always been a winter girl. Born in December, as a kid I loved to ski, sled, & skate in the winter. The anticipation of waiting to hear if school was cancelled on a snowy day was always a thrill because that meant getting out in the snow. Now that my body says, no more, to those wintery pursuits, winter has become my time to actively dive in to hobbies, cooking, and coffee chats with friends. It is a special time of peace, rest, and reflection. If only there wasn’t ice….living in New England now means slippery conditions that my all too many years is afraid of. One negative for many positives!

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Tom Greene • 6 months ago

Elizabeth: I’d take the trade of ice for peace, rest and reflection! Thanks for reaching out. Please stay in touch! Tom

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Sandy Puentes • 7 months ago

I enjoyed reading the book mentioned in the article by Katherine May so much so that I bought it.  
 
Winter is an interesting season for sure and makes the other seasons more beautiful to experience.

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Tom Greene • 6 months ago

Sandy: so happy you found the book. One of my favorites! Yes, Spring is just that much sweeter! Please stay in touch.  
 
Tom

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Lolo Del • 7 months ago

I love winter…the shorter cold sunlit days, with the long darkness of the night. But then, I am a night owl. It covers me and makes me feel more safe and secure. Just like wrapping myself in a favourite furry blanket. I feel a sense of calm. 

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Tom Greene • 6 months ago

Lolo: I’m a night owl, too. I have to force myself to go to sleep so I can get up for work. I love the quiet if the night. Thanks for reading. Please stay in touch. Tom

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S S • 7 months ago

With trump being in office , that hasn’t helped with my winter depression

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Tom Greene • 6 months ago

Spring is coming. Look for the green shoots! Wont be long. Tom

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S S • 7 months ago

I haven’t and never have embraced winter , it’s cold , dark , depressing so even after reading your words , I haven’t considered winter as a benefit, sorry , that’s how I feel

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Sandy Puentes • 7 months ago

Try to see the beauty in winter instead of focusing on its cold, darkness, or the sadness it may bring. Your mind has been conditioned to dislike winter, so it instinctively finds reasons to reinforce that feeling. But consider this: winter comes every year, and you likely don’t want to spend the rest of your life disliking an entire season. To change this, you need to retrain your perspective to seek and appreciate its beauty. Words are powerful, but they become wisdom only when put into practice.  
 
Ex: Hot or warm drinks in the winter taste better and usually give a warm fuzzy feeling that you can't really get in the other seasons. My favorite is hot chocolate with buttered crackers or toasted bread...yummy....  
 
I also love soups. 
 
Anyway, good luck!  
 

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Tom Greene • 6 months ago

I’m fortunate to live in Atlanta where we have lots of 45 degree gray days, but they’re often broken by the occasional sunny 65 degree day that feels like you’re getting away with something. Tom

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Georgia Patrick • 7 months ago

That explains a lot, Tom. Yesterday I did not tune into any coverage of Trump's Second Reign of Misrule and Malice. Instead, I lit many candles and many beautiful, all-day lamps that use lamp oil. And because of the chill of subfreezing outside, I put the fireplace to good use, too. Your article inspired me to go deeper into the Katherine May book to speak to the highly sensitive, overactive, empathetic minds of the gifted minds and professionals who gather in our community. We know about light therapy for depression and mental health but what about the rest of us? Now I see the connection between how my mind works and why fire, candles, and flickering lights are so important. Don't worry folks, I said, this child is not a pyro problem. She just has a high-gear brain that needs plenty of time in front of the fireplace (in winter) and the sunshine and outside firepit in summer.

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Tom Greene • 6 months ago

Me too, Georgia. I’m definitely not a winter person. I do think that Seadonal Affectuve Disorder is real. I can imagine living somewhere that’s gray and wet all the time. At least in Atlanta we get the occasional blue sky 65 degree day in February. Thanks for reading!! Tom

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Doris Littrell • 7 months ago

Tom, when my youngest was small, we would sit him in front of the fire in the fireplace and he'd calm down and go to sleep.

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Tom Greene • 7 months ago

Love it. My dog often circles the fireplace hoping we will turn it on. Tom

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Ricky Batross • 7 months ago

When the winter becomes too cold to work outside I enjoy the extra reflection and meditation ways.

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Tom Greene • 7 months ago

Depending on where you live this will be a great week for reflection….. tom

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Steve Ratterman • 7 months ago

Great piece… as always Tom. Obviously, perfect for this time of the year. I love the winter solstice because I know the days will start getting longer the next day. The light will begins to return!  
 
Your analogy, and Ms. May’s, of our struggles and periods of grief as winter was spot on. I tell my Sunday School class, frequently, that we do not grow in our comfort but only in our challenges, in our “personal winters”.  
 
May we all learn to accept, to learn from, the winters of our lives knowing that the light and spring of new beginnings is right around the corner.

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Tom Greene • 7 months ago

Amen, brother. James 1:2-3.  
 
Thanks for reading and commenting, Steve. Tom

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L L • 7 months ago

That's an uplifting message on a cold winter day in Charlotte. Thanks, L

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Bill Clarkson • 7 months ago

Tom: Thank you for this beautiful reflection. I really needed it after yesterday’s (Jan. 20) dark, dark day. God help us! Bill Clarkson