On Hibernating

Winter is a time of slowing down, resting, and getting less done. It’s a time of saving up and restoring strength in order have the energy to do what will need to be done in springtime, summer, and fall.

When I was little, one of the books I loved was Anybody Home? by Aileen Fisher. I was the type of kid who, without trying, would get virtually pulled into the pictures I looked at in books. (Who am I kidding? I STILL do this!)

One of my favorite pictures to get lost in from Anybody Home? was of a squirrel all cozied up inside of a tree. It was sleeping with its long fluffy tail wrapped up around itself like a blanket, covering it up to its nose.

Take a look!

While the setting of the book isn’t specifically wintertime, I almost always think of this picture in winter! It’s the perfect image of what I feel like doing in winter: slowing down, staying warm, and recharging my energy (in a cozy place...with fuzzy blankets). =)

When temperatures get colder and daylight gets shorter, I get much less done in a day! And...I find myself remembering how much more productive I was - not that long ago - in fall, summer, and spring.

And I’m tempted to feel guilty about it.

But then the image of that cozy, beautifully drawn squirrel comes to mind...and I remember that the hibernating animals and all of the trees and flowering bushes that surround the house seem slower and dormant right now too.

And then I remember:

That’s what winter is all about.

The trees and hibernating animals feel no guilt about being “unproductive.” It’s winter! Things are still and calm. That's just what they do when temperatures drop. It's not wasteful - it's wisdom.

Everyone and everything needs seasons of rest.

And you’re no different. Whether it’s actually winter outside or whether your inward self is going through what feels like a winter, your resting isn’t laziness. 

Your resting and slowness are in tune with your season.

So, is it winter for you? Go ahead - hibernate and be cozy!

When the season shifts, you’ll be up and about again. No need to rush.

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