When a bitter, unforgiving wind is clattering the windowpanes and the street looks like a pure sheet of ice, I can't help thinking that hibernation is a very good idea which humans have missed out on completely. Even though I don't think I could ever forego experiencing all four seasons (lifelong Northeasterner here), unfailingly, it's in mid-February that I've had more than my share of toe-freezing temperatures. That's when it's time to get creative, to push through 'til springtime. So here's what I do:
Make art out of the bare branches. I think there's something bittersweet and beautiful about trees reaching their branches up to the heavens, and it's only in winter when we can see their graceful silhouettes. Take time out for some bare tree photos.
Read poems about the seasons (and life in general). Here's one of my favorites from Robert Frost:
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's first green is gold.
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief.
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Hibernate with some good movies. For me, movies and photography go hand-in-hand, so I chalk up watching movies to "work research." :) Here are just a few flicks I've enjoyed lately (all VERY different!): Moonrise Kingdom, The Light Between Oceans, Bottle Rocket, Tulip Fever, Ex Machina.
Have a guilt-free nap. If the bears can sleep for months without getting hassled, there's really no reason you can't snooze through at least one winter afternoon.
Light candles at breakfast. Dark winter mornings are perfect for candlelight. It's super-cozy and feels like a mini-celebration. Treat yourself!
Until next month...stay cozy!
P.S. If you've got spring fever big-time and can't wait to capture the season as it blossoms, I invite you to join my next online photography course, How to Take Better Photos of Nature and the World Around You. It starts on March 5, 2018 and you don't need a fancy camera (your smart phone will do just fine). This is the only time it will run until 2019, so don't miss your chance! Click this link for all the details: How to Take Better Photos of Nature and the World Around You.
P.P.S. If you'd like "a little more Joy" between blog posts...
- Meet me on Instagram, where I share my newest nature photos and "mini-blog posts" almost every day at @joy_sussman. Or, for my "gallery of creative experiments" on Instagram, check out @joyundefined .
- Sign up below for my FREE monthly(ish) photography newsletter, Writing with Light, where I share my latest creative inspirations, occasional freebies, upcoming e-courses, and exclusive discounts. When you subscribe, you'll also get my free downloadable guide, "Hey, How Did You Do That?!" 20 Apps to Totally Transform Your Phone Photos.
© 2018 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.
