Monthly Musings- Beating the Winter Blues

Patty and Holly came up with some fun questions to ponder and and a link up by which to share answers. Thanks, ladies :)

1. Something I do to beat the winter blues- I wasn’t sure I was going to answer these questions because I feel like a winter blues fraud- in a nutshell, I don't dislike winter!🫣 That seems contradictory because I hate to be cold. But I love to be warm inside on a cold winter day and I don't mind being outside in the cold as long as I'm moving and dressed warmly. When I was growing up, I knew someone whose mental health was adversary affected by the cold temperatures, gray skies, and early darkness that defines winter so I know that the winter blues are a real problem for some. I am grateful that I don't get the winter blues. 

2. Something I do to bring joy to my family- We have two built in “joy makers” and those are two of the three kids’ birthdays are in the winter so celebrating those bring joy. (Jacob’s is sometimes in late fall depending on when the winter solstice is but for all practical purposes, his birthday is in winter). The excitement of celebrating those and the celebrations themselves bring joy. After Alyssa’s birthday in late January, it’s time to focus on Valentine’s Day. I like to do little things for the family on Valentine’s Day and that hopefully brings joy.

Winter is not the most ideal time for a birthday at least in the Midwest when the weather can be iffy. The only child who has not had a birthday party upended due to the weather is Abby who has a fall birthday. One year, Alyssa wanted a Frozen themed birthday and when a winter storm was predicted for the exact time frame of the party, we had to reschedule the party. It was kind of fitting that it was a Frozen party got winter-poned. We had her party the following weekend. 

Jacob’s birthday party one year entailed a trip to a movie theater to watch a movie. Donnie and I both drove so that we could all attend as well as plenty of Jacob’s friends. While we were at the movie, unbeknownst to us, the rain that was predicted turned to ice as the temperature unexpectedly plunged. By the time the movie ended, the streets, untreated with salt, were slick with ice. Everyone out was driving super cautiously- no one seemed to be going over ten miles an hour. We whitenuckled it to our subdivision when I pulled over as far as I could and stopped the car. We were at the top of a hill and all I could see was ice. I was skittish to drive down that icy hill with other people's kids in my car... Donnie pulled over as well and we talked on our phones about what to do. I told him I was scared to drive downhill on a sheet of ice. What if I couldn't stop? We agreed to exchange cars- I got into the minivan that was better on ice than his sedan was. I proceeded to drive home and to see how slow I could drive while still be moving ;). After a few minutes of being home and Donnie not arriving home, I knew something was wrong. He should have been right behind me. Sure enough, right after we traded cars and I started driving, someone pulled into our subdivision and slid on the icy road right into his car. No one was hurt but... it was not a great way to end the evening. Nor were the phone calls to parents that began like this, "We were involved in minor accident but no one was hurt..." 

Anyway, so long as a winter storm doesn't become predicted at the exact same time as you've planned a party and/ or an unexpected ice storm hits while you are out of your house with a bunch of other people's kids that you have to transport home- planning and having birthday parties in the winter brings joy! Even as the kids have aged out of theme parties and can drive themselves anywhere they want to go, it's still fun/ joyful to celebrate with them.

A birthday celebration- but make it Christmas-y. What else are you gonna do for a close to Christmas birthday??

Jacob and his girlfriend both have birthdays close to Christmas so we had twice the birthday Christmas-y fun this year.

3. Favorite cozy items- So many cozy items- I'll start with the oddest one. It’s my dog bed (emphasis on "my" since we have no dog. The dog bed is actually mine). I find that one of the best ways to get warm is to sit in front of the fireplace. Like, right in front of the fireplace. On the tiles that are right in front of the fireplace. A few years ago, Donnie bought me a dog bed so that when I sit in front of the fireplace, I sit in the dog bed which is soft. Over the holidays, we had friends over and one of the relatives of our friends stopped by to say hello. When the friends and their family member were talking about being at our house, the relative remarked that she didn’t realize that we had a dog. Our friends told her that we don’t have a dog. “Yes, they do,” she said. “I saw a dog bed in the family room.” Our friends explained that the dog bed is mine!!

4. Winter exercise- I run year round so winter is no exception. I love to exercise in the cold. Those first intakes of sharp, crisp cold air on an early morning run, the feel of going from cold to warm as I move, hearing the crunch of snow as I run on it (so long as it isn't too deep)- these are a few of my favorite winter running things. 


5. I don’t journal or meditate.


6. I don’t light candles or use essential oils. I do like to fill the house with good scents. I use wax melts/ warmers to accomplish that.


7. The best thing I’ve done for my sleep is to get a weighted blanket. I like the feel of the weight. However, I've noticed that the sleep benefits of it wore off after using it for a few months. I think I got used to it and it stopped aiding in a good night’s sleep. I still like how it feels but as to improving my sleep, that ship has likely sailed.

8. Morning habits- Pray, make a cup of tea, do some Bible and blog reading. If I'm not subbing, I can do all these things at my leisure. If I'm subbing, I do these things but the order is more precise and I have time constraints. 

9. Favorite way to spend a day in the winter- A cold run followed by a steaming hot shower followed by baking something then making popcorn on the stove, sitting down to watch something on TV while eating popcorn and/ or the baked item. (I would watch the screen with someone. I don't think I've ever watched a TV show or movie by myself but my favorite way to spend the day scenario would include others being with me at home!) Then reading a good book, catching up with family and friends via texts/ calls and calling it a day!

10. I don't have a favorite themed winter movie. 

I finished writing this on Wednesday- a SNOW day! No school for us!! I was supposed to sub on Wednesday so it was a day off of work for me. Donnie worked from home due to predicted icy roads. Alyssa was so happy to sleep in (our school made the call to cancel on Tuesday evening). I asked her on Tuesday what she wanted to do on Wednesday. She said, "Let's make popcorn and watch a movie." OK! That was part of my already listed favorite way to spend a day in the winter!!