I often tell people that winter is my favorite season, but this year even I’m ready for spring. As beautiful as the snow has been, having so many storms has been disruptive. It has thrown off my ability to accurately anticipate what the next days or weeks will bring. It’s highlighted to me that as much as I try to control my life – I’m not in charge.
When winter comes
The most common use of the word “winter” describes the season marked by cold weather and bare trees. During Mother Nature’s winter season, we are forced to retreat inside and many things stop growing. The characteristics of the winter season can show up in other parts of our lives. We experience winters in our careers, in our relationships, in our health, and in our hearts. Often our focus on serving the world around us has to shift to hibernating and healing. It can be especially hard for people focused on service to go through times of winter. We are used to serving others and have to allow ourselves to be cared for.
The last full day of this winter season is tomorrow, March 19th. If you’re coming to the end of any kind of winter, here are 10 questions to ask yourself before ushering in spring.
- What stopped growing this winter?
- Do I want to see all, some, or none of it grow back?
- What do I want to plant next?
- How much energy do I have to care for a new blossom?
- Which habits helped me through this winter?
- Which habits made this season more difficult for me?
- Was my home a place I wanted to retreat to?
- Who kept me warm during my coldest days?
- What will I do to prepare for the next winter?
- How has this winter better equipped me to serve?