Why it's good to hibernate in winter.

The freedom of summer

We all love the sunshine. But that sunshine is especially good in the summer. There is something about the those long warm days that makes life feel hopeful. We clock off from work feeling energised for the evening ahead.

I find that summer is all about plans: seeing friends, visiting new places, long walks after work, beer gardens, trying a new outdoor sport. Honestly just laying a field of grass, soaking in the warmth of the sun and the freshness of the air, thinking "wow, isn't life just great." A bit much? But no seriously, in summer, there is an air of possibility. I feel like I can do anything. I also crave more social interaction.

But in winter, with the days feeling like they end when the sun (that barely makes an appearance) goes down, I am aching to get home and crawl into bed. I want to be at home, away from the world. Alone. In this, I am reminded of a quote from Naoko in Murakami's famous Norwegian Wood:

And maybe this isn't the case for all. Some aren't affected by the change of seasons or the time of day. Or some are energised in the night time. But for me, winter is a time to hibernate.

Winter is a time for nurturing

To me, winter is the perfect time to nurture what I already have.

It is a time nurture my relationships with family and friends.

It is a time for cooking hearty meals, pouring hours into cooking your Sunday dinner.

It is a time for reading.

It is a time to slow down.

It is a time for rest.

But winter is also a time to reflect on the past.

In hibernation we rest and reflect

It's okay to take time away from people and spend that time with yourself instead. You can use that time alone to reflect on who you are, why your decisions have led you to where you are today, what were good ones, what were bad, but taking that time to realise we aren't perfect and every mistake is part of the journey.

It is a time for reading, writing, reflecting, cooking, nourishing, resting, being still.

Once this hibernation period has been felt in every sense, we move into spring reborn. We are ready for change. When April falls upon us, we are ready for new beginnings.

I'll end with one of my favourite poems by e.e.cummings, which always brings me peace when life feels overwhelming. It never fails to remind me of what life means to me:

Enjoying the passage of time.

A poem to end

dive for dreams

or a slogan may topple you

(trees are their roots

and wind is wind)

trust your heart

if the seas catch fire

(and live by love

though the stars walk backward)

honour the past

but welcome the future

(and dance your death

away at this wedding)

never mind a world

with its villains or heroes

(for god likes girls

and tomorrow and the earth)

by E.E. Cummings, June 1952

Happy hibernating!

Love April :)