The Onset of Winter

One of the reasons to love living in Minnesota is the changing of seasons. Notice I didn't say I loved living in Minnesota. As I have gotten older I really have struggled to enjoy, or more precisely cope with the winters. Maybe that's why my mother lives in Albuquerque and my father lives near Phoenix.

When I was young I was constantly outside. It didn't matter how cold it was, I wanted to be playing hockey at the outdoor rink in the nearby park. If there was a fresh snowfall I wanted to be the first kid on the sledding hill. When I hit my teen years I really got into skiing. I was a maniac on two long boards strapped to my feet. More often than not, they were aimed straight down the hill which more than irked the local ski patrol. Sometimes the only way to stop was to hit the ground. It's amazing I never broke anything.

I was watching the news this morning and found out today is the first day the sun officially sets before I get off work at 5:00 p.m.

Oh crap, winter is coming.

The sense of dread that comes with the onset of winter can sometimes be unbearable. Where is the joy from my youth? Why do I cringe when my kids ask me to take them sledding? There is a park less than a 5 iron away with a big skating rink. Why do I lace up the skates only once or twice a season?

I might be an average guy but I am blessed in many ways. I should not be dreading winter. I don't necessarily have to embrace it, but I certainly don't have reason to dread it. I drive a big 4 wheel drive SUV, I ain't gonna get stuck. My wife drives a smaller, sexier SUV and she ain't gonna get stuck either. I almost never get sick so I'm not overly concerned about the flu pandemic hitting me. I also have a conscientious neighbor who snow-blows most of the public walkways on the block, and another across the alley who occasionally blows out my driveway leaving me minimal shoveling. And finally, I have a warm home with a cozy fireplace.

What's my problem?

This winter I am going to intentionally attempt to be in better moods. It's hard to have a sunny disposition when it's dark most of the time up here in the frozen tundra, but I'm going to try.