Call me crazy, but there’s a part of me that actually enjoys winter.
I’m fairly certain I’m in the minority of the Northeast US population who doesn’t mind the winter. To be fair, I’ll admit that it’s not my favorite season. I don’t like when it gets dark out at 5pm, or when the temperature drops down to single digits. I definitely don’t like slipping on ice in my driveway, which seems to happen at least once every winter.
My backyard during Winter Storm Grayson last week.
But while snowy scenes like the photo above may strike fear into the hearts of millions, it gives me a bit of a thrill. When I was a kid, my childhood best friend and I used to pretend we were on “snowstorm watch duty” whenever we played at each other’s houses if we knew a storm was on the way. We ran all over the house, staring out every single window, trying to catch a glimpse of the very first snowflake that fell from the sky.
Even now, at 30 years old, whenever a snowstorm is approaching, I become giddy with anticipation. I get butterflies in my stomach when I feel that extra nip in the air that can only mean snow is on the way. I eagerly watch for that first snowflake, turning towards the window every 5 minutes to check if it started snowing yet. If I’m sleeping when it’s expected to start, the very first thing I do when I wake up is run to the window to make sure the weathermen haven’t lied to me.
Now, cleaning up the snow after the storm has passed is a different story. I don’t particularly enjoy shoveling, or driving around when the roads are still messy. But I deal with it because I know I otherwise wouldn’t have experienced the excitement of the storm in the first place.
There are other things besides snow that I like about the winter. I’m an introvert and somewhat of a homebody who mostly prefers staying in most of the time. Winter is the perfect season to stay at home with a good book and a cozy blanket, sipping on a glass of red wine with a candle burning in the background. And everything just seems quieter and more peaceful in the winter. There aren’t as many people out and about. When I go outside, I can feel a calmness, a serenity that I don’t feel during the other seasons.
I also am deeply attached to my leggings, baggy sweatshirts, and dare I say it, my Uggs. (I know I’m basic. I’m well aware of that fact and quite proud of it.) While I have fun getting dressed up on occasion, I absolutely love wearing my “comfy clothes.” To me, that means hoodies and sweatpants. (Aside from being basic, I’m apparently also still stuck in my college days.) This has nothing to do with me not being confident in myself. I have no problem wearing shorts in the summer. I just prefer my winter clothes over my summer clothes.
I even enjoy running in winter weather. I like getting bundled up in my cold-weather gear. I love the feeling of the brisk air hitting my cheeks while I run. I always look forward to completing my Saturday runs early in the morning. There’s nothing better than coming home to a warm cup of coffee, taking a hot shower, and changing into my comfy clothes before I curl up on the couch for the rest of the day. It’s easy to get outside when the weather is nice, but I feel much more accomplished after I finish a run when the weather is less desirable.
With all of this said, I know there will come a time, probably around Valentine’s Day, where I’ll be so over winter and eagerly awaiting the spring. But that’s another beautiful thing about the winter – it makes me appreciate the warmth of the spring and summer that much more. And until the spring comes down upon us, I’ll still be here in my hoodie and UGGS with my favorite leopard-printed blanket.
