Random Thoughts about Joy on a -25 Degree Morning

Raise your hand if you’ve said or felt one of these things lately:

“Ugh, I’m so not looking forward to the weather this weekend…”

“Why do I live here?”

“I just want to hibernate til spring.”

If you’ve shared a post with these sentiments, don’t feel like I’m trying to call you out - because I’ve definitely said all these things plenty of times this week. And…I’m starting to get a little tired of hearing them come out of my own mouth.

I get it - sarcastically complaining and comparing how we feel about the weather is a way to relate to each other.

But I’m starting to wonder if sometimes we’re having so much fun being collectively miserable that we forget to ask whether it’s even worth being miserable at all.

My feelings about the cold are about 10 percent serious stress about things that could go really wrong, and 90 percent just discomfort. I’m pretty sure complaining, even if it’s humorous, does nothing to help my stress. And last I checked, discomfort is usually either completely harmless or actually helpful.

I’ve been debating all day whether I should even post this because I know I will continue to complain about the cold plenty and I don’t want to be a hypocrite. But maybe it’s better to be a hypocrite because you can’t meet your own high expectations than to not have expectations at all.

And so I’m trying to curb my impulses to complain or be sarcastic about the weather, and instead focus on what’s actually helpful.

For the things I’m actually stressed about, trusting in God’s protection and remembering it’s not up to me to keep everything safe and warm. I love turning to passages like Psalm 147:15-18:

“He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.”

And for the uncomfortable parts - leaning into the discomfort and finding what’s enjoyable about it. Like breathing in the crisp, cold, bugless, pollenless air. Being in awe of just how resilient animals are in the face of such extreme cold. Embracing the gift of warming up in a cozy house. And just being grateful for all of it, good, bad, and indifferent.

And trying to reframe all those things we usually say.

Thinking about what I AM looking forward to this weekend instead of letting the weather define the whole time.

Thinking about all the great things I would miss if I hibernated til spring.

And remembering exactly “why I live here” because obviously there are plenty of really good reasons, or I wouldn’t be here.

Let me know if this helps you switch up your mindset about winter!