Wintering is a book by Katherine May which I recently finished.
The blurb sums it up nicely: "The power of rest and retreat in difficult times."
It was fortuitous I read it at this particular time as I gained some new perspective on wintering. The wintering of my life particularly.
So many here race off to sunnier climes (at least in pre-plague days) avoiding the whole wintering business.
It's a time for being home, for crafting, for making soups and reading and writing for playing music and watching old movies. Embracing a form of hibernation. We've lost touch with all of that. Rising with the sun, bedding down along with it as the day comes to a close.
I was and still am, processing my latest health challenges and this has helped me see life more sharply, through a different pair of spectacles if you will. Hunkering down is OK. Our bodies crave it.
I received this wonderful validation in my email box yesterday from one of the eight people in my weekly writing workshop. It lifted me immeasurably.
M, thank you a million times over for the magic you are creating in our writing group! I feel so fortunate! So Elated! It;s given me a new confidence and a comfort I haven't felt in my skin for a long time or maybe never! Seeing us all evolving! seeing what B read this week just rendered me speechless. How she evolves! What stories these women carry inside them come to life is the best feeling in the world.
forever in your debt,
Snow means slow around here. We go hard spring, summer and fall and winter is for all those activities you listed - for being home, for crafting, for making soups and reading and writing...playing music and watching old movies. Embracing a form of hibernation.
ReplyDeleteIt's a totally different feeling when we embrace it Mona and do the interior stuff we don't normally do.
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We always wintered (since retirement) in warmer climes until covid. Now we are quite happy hibernating at home doing all the things you listed.
ReplyDeleteAnd your lists are magnificent Jackie, I do envy the energy you have which I once had. But hey, wintering of the spirit...... :)
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You are right. We need to winter down (for a time, for a season). Something I fear that many of us forget.
ReplyDeleteAnd, what a wonderful affirmation of just what your writing workshop can mean. You must have been floating when you read that heartfelt note.
I was EC, it was so unexpected, we often don't realise the effect we have on others.
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You would get rather too much sleep if you slept during your dark hours at this time the year.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to received nice emails at times.
I think the more sleep is the point though Andrew, the shutting down, etc. after harvesting and prepping for the winter months. Our primitive selves.
DeleteI was fascinated particularly with the dormouse in England and its hibernation pattern.
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I'll bite. I am off to look up dormouse.
DeleteIt is something to do with the verification tick but I can't comment on your subsequent post. After writing the comment the second time, I saved it so I will try again later.
That bloody blogger thing Andrew, especially on word press though now it has fixed the problem, I think :) It would take me 16 steps to post. Now it's only 2....
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My wife B agrees with you. She likes winter when she can sit around and read a book, spend extra time cooking, watching TV, talking to friends on the phone. Me? I get antsy. I'd rather be outside playing golf or tennis or just taking a walk without freezing my you-know-what off.
ReplyDeleteI'd say you're not alone in that Tom. Many of my male friends expend all their energy on hockey games on the TV, it's a sight to behold and does not contribute to wintering, LOL.
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Wintering here means hot drinks and soups, reading, watching movies and napping a lot. Fluffy blankets on all the chairs and extra quilts on the bed. For me anyway. And cat hair everywhere as Lola sleeps on everything in turn.
ReplyDeleteSo much like here, River, as I gaze out on our first winter snow storm, a pretty intense one and I love feeling I have no demands on me and can flutter around indoors.
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What a lovely compliment from your group member. Just the thing to "pick you up"!
ReplyDeleteTruly Ramana, it was such an unexpected gift.
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I am glad that the writing group is doing so well. We all evolve, don't we?
ReplyDeletePersonal development is so important as we age Gigi, I've seen too many dead at 65 and buried at 85.
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The book is being read this week on Radio 4.
ReplyDeleteI rather like winter. x
Oh so lovely to hear Anne. I rather like winter too, I don't feel rushed and love that.
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I am grateful for wintering too, although here it still means shovelling snow and hauling firewood from the shed to the wood stove. I am glad your writing workshop is taking off, I miss my writing group which has switched to zoom. Not a big fan of zoom.
ReplyDeleteI use Zoom for the family chats on Sunday aft. But like you I'm not a fan at all. And can't see it working for a writing group.
DeleteYour winter is intense, much like mine in the outport but I had help for the wood and the snow fortunately. Can't imagine the hard business you endure.
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You are the second blogger I know to recommend that book. I'm glad it helped shift your perspective. I'm looking forward to it and yes, it is a concept/cycle worth exploring though I think I have been doing a version of it for awhile now.
ReplyDeleteE I believe all of us during The Plague have been negotiating a form of winter. :) Good practice for the real thing.
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That's a very gratifying email. It seems your writing group is firing on all cylinders!
ReplyDeleteI also feel like hibernating in the wintry weather. As soon as it gets dark I feel the urge to go to bed.
We should listen to our bodies more, right? Nothing wrong with napping as the light fades and slants.
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