The air is crisper, the frost is starting to linger, and everyone is acting as gloomy as the weather. But why? Are we looking at winter all wrong?
The minute the temperature drops and the whisperings of winter come to life before our eyes, most tend to complain more than appreciate the excitement of a new season. This is a far different cultural attitude compared with countries closer to the North Pole that see far darker and gloomier days than most of the world. According to one article, The Norwegian Secret To Enjoying A Long Winter, Norway has a lower seasonal depression because they look at the winter season as something to be enjoyed not endured.
A Positive Mentality
There is hope to get off the “oh no its winter!” bandwagon and it starts with changing your mentality from negative to positive. The next few months make up the greatest season of the year, and here are a few friendly tips that we’ve found helpful to fall in love with winter!
1. Get Outside
Stop dreaming about summer because the “sun’s out fun’s out” mentality is just not true! Winter has many amazing things for you to enjoy that you wouldn’t want to miss. Although it’s cold outside, there is no reason to rush to your warm fireplace. All you need to do is shift your focus away from the chill in your fingers to the happiness in the moment. The effort you make to get outside will be richly rewarded with the joy spent with your kids inner tubing down a snow-blanketed hill, or gliding (and sometimes stumbling) across an ice skating rink with your best friends, or simply embracing the beauty of nature on a snowshoe trail. All you have to do is bundle up in that snow jacket and brave the cold mountain air that leaves you energized!
2. Reconnect with Friends & Family
Of course, there are going to be times where it’s impossible for you to leave your house. But is anyone ever truly disappointed about that? It’s a great excuse to bond with your family. Some of your fondest memories are shared when playing a good game of Scrabble, having a movie marathon (watch all the Star Wars), or enjoying the endless cookies and hot chocolates.
3. Embrace Your Inner Coziness
There is something so soothing about being in a house lit by candlelight and curling up with a good book by a warm fireplace. Winter causes us to appreciate the little things and to be creative in making our home the epitome of comfort. It’s hard to hate winter when the best parts of it remind us to destress and unwind from our day.
4. Cherish the Beauty of Winter
Nothing is more enchanting than the first snowfall. While some states only know a green winter, we are fortunate enough to truly experience winter at its finest. Snow only comes for a limited time of the year and can anyone say they actually take a moment to marvel at the glorious phenomenon? According to Ben Fishman, a local from New Paltz, New York, there is something extraordinary about a snowfall: “Everything is quiet and still, and this leaves you with a feeling of wonder. All the things you’d normally walk past without a second glance seem to change after a snowfall, becoming beautiful shapes and silhouettes that wake you up to the beauty that was already there.”
At Mohonk Mountain House we aren’t counting down the days until warmer weather comes. With our long list of winter activities and exciting events, guests and staff alike share the joys of the season. Embrace winter with us like you never have before, because it is such a special time of year!
Renew yourself this season with a midweek getaway at our winter wonderland. Enjoy crisp mountain air, cozy fireplaces, and our outdoor ice-skating pavilion with the best rates of the year!
Sources:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3052970/the-norwegian-secret-to-enjoying-a-long-winter
