PSA About Dry Spells and Winter Storms

It is January (big mystery there!) and for us here in western Maryland, that means frequent snow.  At the present time as I am writing this, we have a ground cover out here of a couple of inches now, and that is forecast to increase this weekend.  I am also still recovering from the effects of a cold - I have a persistent cough that doesn't seem to want to go away at this point, and that can be unnerving, especially when on occasion I have had some bad episodes of windpipe constriction (that is a terrifying experience I would not wish on anyone, but thankfully those are rare, although ideally, I would love them to be nonexistent).   With the weather being somewhat iffy for snow and being about 3 weeks out from the holiday season now, one observation about this is one I don't like to make, but it is what it is - it is dry as far as activity is concerned.  Mail has been slow, and I am waiting to get back to my contract work, and it seems like the waiting is eternal for a lot of things.  But, it will change soon enough.  These "dry spells" have happened before, and at times they can be depressing, although this one isn't because I have plenty of other projects to work on to keep myself busy in the interim.  It is important to be able to transcend these periods of time, and how one does that is up to one person - yourself.   I want to just talk a bit about that today, as it is something that perhaps some other folks could benefit from.

Winter - especially here in the northeast - can be a challenging season.  Bouts of rough weather can be restrictive, and in a worst-case scenario, you can be walled up in your house for days at a time.  When that happens, an undesirable condition called cabin fever sets in, and when it does, it can stretch your resolve to its limits.   For the 27 years we lived in Florida, it seemed like the opposite was the case there - insufferable heat and humidity in the summer months made it almost impossible to go outside, as heat stroke and other dangers caused problems there.  A type of hot-weather cabin fever can result from that as well.  The weather is unfortunately beyond human control or manipulation, and both winter and summer exist for a reason - the earth needs changing seasons in order to replenish itself, as that is the way God created it to operate.  Although we cannot change the weather - snowstorms, hurricanes, and hot weather will all come whether we want them to or not - we can change our own way of dealing with weather issues.   I want to talk about that today, as I have this feeling that there are people who could benefit from some good insights.

I have spent much time in my writing over the years talking about the art of self-discovery, and how to use what God gave you in the form of brains and ingenuity to your advantage.  Instead of viewing that immanent winter storm with dread about being shut-up in your house for days on end, what you should do instead is to find ways to channel your creativity, intelligence, and other assets to make the best of it.  For some of us, it can be catching up on some reading - I have books I have gotten in the past year I have not even cracked open yet, so I intend to maybe start doing that.  For others, you have those projects to work on - that curio cabinet you bought for your wife about six years ago, for instance, but haven't had the time to assemble.  Get those tools out and start building!  Or, the Christmas presents your wife has gotten you that require some creative ability - you know, like that Venus flytrap plant you haven't opened yet, or a model airplane she may have gotten you because she felt you needed a better hobby.  It's a good time to work on those things.  Also, just some good practical organization - that stack of crap you got in the mail (some of which you haven't opened yet) needs to be dealt with, or you may have a stack of personal papers to go through, some pictures to organize, etc.  You will find that engaging in any or all of these endeavors will make the time pass faster, and in some cases, you may not want to stop.  If that is all too ambitious for you though, here's a thought too - if you are like us, you have a towering shelf of hundreds of DVD's you have purchased over the years, and this is a good time to kill two birds with one stone.  First, some you may have wanted to watch but it slipped your mind as other responsibilities diverted you from it, so now you have an excuse to watch them.  Second, there are those people like my wife who buy DVD movies without knowing what they are - they see a pretty package, think that "this might be good," buy it, and then it sets on the shelf in its original cellophane.  If you are one of those people, time to check out those impulse purchases and find out if you really like that movie after you bought it.  If you did, it's a nice addition to your collection.  If you didn't, then you can set up a box, throw it in, and then take it to your local Goodwill when the weather clears up.  Again, you will be surprised to see how much time flies once you do that.

If you are the type of person who likes to cook, and you have the creativity to come up with new stuff, this is a good time to experiment too.  On my food blog, I have countless recipes posted that I came up with on a whim, and they turned out great.  You would be surprised what you can do with some flour, a few things from the spice rack, and a couple of eggs - a masterpiece awaits conception, in other words.

Another benefit today that I didn't have the luxury of when I was a kid is the internet.  Even in a snowstorm, you can still have unlimited access to the outside world, and life isn't so isolated anymore.  You can chat with your old friends on Facebook, entertain yourself with cat videos or political satire on YouTube, and also if you need to conduct business there are ways to video-conference and other opportunities.  You can even work from home now despite the weather so that even being snowed in generates income.  Being teleworking is becoming more of a thing, it means that companies can benefit from winter storms as well as workflow will be intact and without interruption, and subsequently, it means no loss in pay for employees.  Good idea, this internet.

Outside activities are not out of the question either, although if you have 40 mph winds and blinding snowsqualls it would not be advisable.   Regular preventative maintenance, therefore, is vital in that keeping those walkways clear of snow and ice, keeping your porch steps salted down, and also making sure the snow is shoveled from around your car so you can get out easier are vital things.  Also, keeping the snow and ice off the windshields will make it easier for when you are able to venture out.  Kids, of course, can have a blast - snowmen and snow forts will populate the yards in your community if a lot of kids are in the neighborhood.   These things too can aleve boredom and make the time go faster.

I guess in summary I am saying that winter doesn't have to be dead and depressing, but can be as busy and exciting as you care to make it.  So, don't let a visit from the "Snow Queen" keep you down, and don't let it slow you down either - life must go on, although it will require some creativity on your part to make that happen.  And, before you know it, the snow will melt away, the temperatures will warm up, and you will hear the sounds of birds chirping in the air as Spring arrives.  One other nice thing about winter as well - it means you don't have to mow the yard unless you are an altruistic masochist who feels guilt and is deluded into thinking you can run a lawnmower in 5 inches of snow accumulation, in which case you have other problems to address!  Have a good week everyone, stay warm, and mostly keep yourself busy.