Wintering as a way of healing

For years, I had a hard time accepting the cold and darkness of winter. The long, sunny days of summer would give way to the crisp, colorful season of fall. But then the orange leaves would turn brown, nothing felt warm enough, and there just wasn’t enough daylight to soothe my sun-starved soul. I’d hunker down through winter and let the darkness seep into every emotion, just hanging on until spring.

Something is different for me this year, though. I’ve been ultra-busy for most of the year with my writing club, my job, my writing, and changes happening in my family home. When summer ended and fall started to appear, I realized I needed a reset in a serious way.

So I went dark early—but this time, it was intentional. I turned off my social media (and I might keep it off). I stopped obsessing over the news. I let my world get really small and quiet. I even stepped back from writing for a little while. I started reading more, and exploring new mediums of art, like watercolor. I welcomed the quiet without trying to fill it with digital noise. I wrote letters and called friends and took long walks. I kept my phone down and laptop closed as much as possible, and paid more attention to the clouds, the birds, and my breath.

The result? I feel like a huge burden has lifted. The cold and darkness of winter have returned, and I’ve embraced the season instead of bracing against it. Author Katherine May calls this slowdown “wintering,” which is also the title of her memoir. I can’t think of a better word for it. I’ve been wintering as a way of healing. I’m even returning to writing, but at a much gentler pace.

If you’re feeling pulled in too many directions as we move into the holidays and the darker days of the season, maybe wintering could help you too. What are some ways you’ve been nourishing your inner self lately?

P.S. If you’re new to my blog, hi! I’m Crissi Langwell, a romantic women’s fiction author. You can find all my books here. Thanks for reading — I hope you stick around!