What We Can Learn from Children and Pets about the Magnificence of Winter
"All life events are formative. All contribute to what we become. As my friend Kenneth Koch once said, 'You aren't just the age you are. You are all the ages you have ever been."—Fred Rogers, from The World According to Mister Rogers.
It seems that children can find the magic in anything. They are content to experience winter while sitting in a stroller, under layers of warm clothing or delight in the tangible wonders of snow.
The same can be said of animals. Cindy's Huskies seem blissfully unaware of the cold. "I laugh at them every time I see one of them using a snow pile for a pillow - wish I liked the cold more," she said.
Children and animals seem to have a natural ability to be present in each moment and experience the beauty of it. Even in winter, they experience the magnificence of the moment, while we slog around in a winter funk and dream of spring. No matter how we try to embrace the season, we look at the calendar, the weather and above all, the loss of daylight, and we don't need a groundhog to predict that we will experience another two months of it.
For many of us, that is just plain unacceptable, so we resist it, by indulging in food or drink or sluggishness. According to Zen philosophy, it is our resistance to 'what is' that causes our suffering.
The winter misery most of us experience can range from mild discontent to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) symptoms that require therapy or even a move to another climate. See Belleruth's post, CBT Beats Light Therapy for Winter Depression.
No matter where you are on the spectrum of winter discontent, there is help available. Check out the tips in the Health Journeys Blog post, Using Guided Imagery to Help Avert a SAD Winter.
We can all take a lesson from watching young children and animals and observe their ability to be present with 'what is.' We could also flash back to a time when we could find delight and pleasure in the present moment.
"All life events are formative. All contribute to what we become, year by year, as we go on growing. As my friend the poet Kenneth Koch once said, 'You aren't just the age you are. You are all the ages you have ever been."—Fred Rogers, from The World According to Mister Rogers.
For some help connecting with your inner child, try listening to some guided imagery programs, like Lynne Newman's Gifts of Presence, which provides a magical, uplifting journey that helps uncover hidden childhood treasures.
Yoga and breath-work are also helpful for people experiencing seasonal depression. Try Amy Weintraub's audio, Breathe to Beat the Blues or her DVD, Life Force Yoga to Beat the Blues.
What children and animals can teach us is that whether you choose to listen to guided imagery, your favorite music or just sit by a sunny window and watch the winterscape, the important thing is to take time to be in the moment and appreciate where you are.
Tell us your winter tales. We love hearing from you.
