3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

Just a few weeks ago, I told someone that I did not like winter. Perhaps it was because we were in the middle of a week of single digit temperatures, ice, and snow. We were also in winter’s usual darkness with short days of light and little sunshine, and I was thinking at that moment that the unique quietness of winter could be construed as an awkward silence. The fading happy memories of the holidays are being slowly packed up with the decorations and the possibility of cheerless days lies ahead for a while as we wait for spring.

 Or does it? I reconsidered my position on winter during a bout of bronchitis this week. I was looking out at the black and white landscape and wondered what exactly the trees and plants were doing right now beneath their lifeless veneer.

 It seems that even though winter is a period of rest and dormancy, much activity is going on under the surface to survive and prepare for the next season of growth. There are many chemical changes going on inside the plant to make sure it survives during this time, even though no change is evident on the outside. The plants are fed during the winter with stored starches and the water from the plant cells protects the plant like antifreeze. As the trees and shrubs replenish their energies within the protection of the tree bark and the plants hide underground, they are preparing for the season ahead.

I, too, am preparing for the season ahead. In my previous blogs, I have written that January is a great month to get things done and in years past, I quoted Martha Stewart who has given some interesting ideas to make a year organized and the winter months productive. This year, I realized that this time of staying indoors and perhaps being dormant was essential for my future growth. Instead of being busy after the flurry of the holiday season, this time was made by the Creator in nature for my sustenance and growth. Each season has its beauty, but winter has its own particular gifts.

It is a time of thoughtfulness and restoration. I have been reading different books and learning about new topics, playing music, and developing my hygge. What is that, you say? Hygge is a Danish term that the Scandinavia Standard describes as “coziness and surrounding yourself with the things that make life good, like friendship, laughter and security, as well as more concrete things like warmth, light, seasonal food and drink.”  The Danish people rate as the happiest people on earth, and I imagine that despite their long winters and freezing temperatures, hygge is one of their secret weapons. My simple understanding of this concept is environmental nourishment.

The concept of hygge aligns with well-being and self-care. It is about creating a space and a lifestyle that supports relaxation, comfort, and mental well-being. It could be as simple as creating a lovely, aesthetically- pleasing corner in which to read or knit. Hygge often involves disconnecting from our phones and computers and enjoying simple activities alone or with other people such as playing board games, learning new skills, or creating art. All these activities improve mental health and attitude, and these, in turn, improve physical health.

As the days and weeks move toward the next season and the light levels increase, the seasonal variations of my circadian rhythm will change from a natural hibernation to wakefulness. Maybe I will write more on how light impacts sleep and productivity next time. By using hygge to fill my emotional, mental, and spiritual wells, I will be ready to take on those upcoming projects this year!