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The Fredericksburg region received its first snowfall of the season this week, bringing flurries of school closings, puffy snow-gear wearing, snowball-making and sledding.
The respite from "simply cold" was welcome, but now plain old regular winter has returned.
And let's face it, late winter isn't an easy time of year to love. It's the moody counterpart to early winter's cheerful abundance. But why not find a way to make peace with it?
After all, spring arrives seven weeks from today. In the meantime, late winter can be a good time to:
SLOW DOWN
Much of the natural world rests in winter, noted Pamela Fillmore, who spends her days helping others relax as a Reiki practitioner at Healing Arts Yoga Center in Fredericksburg.
To be sure, Fillmore doesn't advocate seeking out the closest cave and piling on the leaves. Hibernation is not an option. But even the most in-demand of us can take a cue from nature and sneak in some relaxing moments.
Here are some suggestions:
Build in some quiet time every morning. Get up a few minutes earlier than usual, Fillmore said.
Look out the window at nature.
Light a candle and watch the flame or listen to soft music.
Take a yoga class.
Meditate. Many people shy away from meditating because they're not sure how to do it, said Megan Mason, who leads meditation groups in the Fredericksburg area.
"Really, there's no right or wrong way to do it," Mason said.
Find a quiet place in your home where you can be still. Start with three or four minutes a day, she suggested, and work your way up to about 15 to 30 minutes. If you're interested in meditating with
Read a book that you wouldn't ordinarily read.
Get outside. Even if it's only a brisk walk around the block, Fillmore said, you'll feel better. If it's dark when you get home from work, walk during your lunch break.
Soak in a bathtub or hot tub. Dim the lights and use some candles.
Focus on your breathing. When you feel stressed, take a moment to breathe deeply into your lungs, Fillmore said. You'll feel calmer.
COZY UP YOUR HOME
Many people spend more time at home in the winter.
Here are some tips for making your home more enjoyable, from Anjela Eubank, owner of the Spotsylvania County interior design company Changing Spaces:
Bring out the good stuff. People will often take out the "good" china or use the "good" silverware only on special occasions. Give yourself permission to use them more regularly.
Make rooms feel fresh with small changes. Switch out the toss pillows on the sofa. Put an area rug on the wood floor. Drape a soft throw blanket over a chair.
Rethink your lighting. Don't use only your overhead light. Lamplight is cozier and can help lift your mood.
Surround yourself with things you love. If you collect vases, for instance, set up a group of them in the room you're in most often.
Make family rooms more intimate. Large family rooms can feel impersonal. Break up the space with two or three smaller seating areas.
Bring in things from nature. Fill a vase with branches. Set out a bowl of red apples or bright-yellow lemons.
Bring in people that you love. "It's the love of friends and family that make our homes cozy."
REFOCUS YOUR LIFE
Mary Jaksch is a New Zealand-based writer and psychotherapist.
She blogs about personal growth and spirituality at goodlifezen.com.
Here are her e-mailed suggestions for starting the year with a new focus:
Clear the decks. Give away what you don't need (clothes, books, etc.).
Tidy your home.
Clear your desk at work.
Reflect on your friends and family. Contact friends and family you have neglected. Let go of acquaintances who don't enhance your life.
Review your leisure-time activities. Do some of your hobbies or activities bore you? Ditch them. Is there something new that you would like to learn?
Reflect on your job. Is your job is satisfying? How could you enjoy it more? If you needed to change your job, how would you do it?
SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS
Marcia Grimsley, a life coach based in the Fredericksburg area, has worked with clients locally and across the country who have found her at marciaslifecoaching .com.
Clients often seek her help because they've had trouble meeting a goal.
Over the years, she has found that people unwittingly set themselves up for failure with goals that are impossible to meet.
To set goals that stick, she said, start by writing them down.
Consider these questions for each one:
Is this really my goal? Make sure the goal is something you want to do, she said, not just something you think you should do.
Am I ready to do this? If your goal is to lose weight, for instance, are you ready to commit to going to the gym on a regular basis?
Can I see myself completing this?
How do I feel about this? "Success is bound up in how much passion and heart you have in it," Grimsley said. "How much you really want it."
What has been holding me back from achieving this goal?
What support will I need?
Finally, she said, "Have the courage to go for it."
Kim Baer: 540/834-0656
Email: kbaer@freelancestar.com
