Jackie Krawczak

“It’s so cold.” Yup, it is Northern Michigan. It gets cold. You have a choice as to where you live. There might be plenty of good reasons you live where you do and complications to moving, but you have a choice.

“I don’t like having to do snow removal.” Pay someone else to do it. Live elsewhere. Live where the association or landlord takes care of snow removal for you. Find amazing neighbors like I do who help out tremendously with snow removal.

“People track snow into my house. It leaves wet spots and sometimes dirty footprints.” Buy a new rug – the kind that helps keep snow from tracking into your house. Require everyone to remove their shoes before moving past the entry point in your house.

“The dog tracks snow into the house.” If you choose to own a dog and live where it snows, you’re going to have dog-delivered snow inside. Buy the right rug. Clean your floors regularly. Deep clean the floors and carpets when the snow is gone for the season.

“My vehicle won’t stay clean, inside or out.” No one’s will in this weather. What does that hurt? Do your best, don’t stress over it, and appreciate it when the weather changes and you can keep your vehicle as clean as your standards prefer.

“The furnace is running constantly.” Yup, mine too and it’s not cheap. Turn it down a few degrees, throw on some slippers, an extra hoody, and a blanket and you’ll be fine.

“The sidewalks and roads are icy.” Use extra caution when you are out. Drive slowly and with care. Find other activities to do than walk on slick sidewalks. If you are going to walk, wear grippers.

“The air is so dry. My skin is dry and itchy.” Lotion. Humidifier.

There are other winter-related complaints I didn’t list.

It is winter in Northeast Michigan (and elsewhere). It is cold. There is snow. There is ice. While annoying to some, winter provides everyone an opportunity to practice shifting perspective, which is a valuable life skill.

Yes, there are plenty of factors about winter that are minor frustrations or annoyances to some (but only to those who allow them to impact life in those ways). These things are only temporary and manageable, and there are potential problems that are so much worse than winter irritations.

Here are all the things I love about winter. Borrow from these to help adjust your perspective during this sometimes-challenging time of year, and to challenge others to do the same. Or, find your own things to love about winter.

Winter is beautiful. Especially when the big fluffy snowflakes are falling or when the sun shines and makes things sparkle. It is fun to make tracks in an untouched bit of snow. It is also fun to see animal tracks in the snow and to guess what kind of animal made the tracks. Was it a rabbit? Deer? Bird? Squirrel? Wait … was that deer wearing boots, or are those prints from the neighbor kid?

There are many outdoor winter activities. With the right preparation, clothing, and gear, the wet and cold doesn’t interfere. The right gear used to include bread bags in boots. Boot technology has improved greatly but bread bags would still absolutely work. Downhill skiing. Cross country skiing. Snowshoeing. Ice skating. Ice fishing. Sledding. Biking. Hiking. Snowmobiling. Hunting. Building snow people.

Not feeling like going into the cold or maybe you’re unsteady on your feet? Winter provides a great time to catch up on indoor activities. Reading. A puzzle. Cleaning. Baking. Cooking. Crafts. Woodworking. Crocheting. Researching. Refinishing. Remodeling. Writing. Learning. Movies. Shopping. Exploring the town. Visting with friends.

Personally, my allergies are much less severe in the winter. My sleep quality improves as it is easier for me to sleep in cool temperatures than warm ones. Even with air conditioning, my upstairs still gets muggy on the warmest and most humid days. I love my weighted blanket and don’t use it in the summer months.

Winter is part of life in Northern Michigan. We can’t control what the weather is going to do. Some winters will be colder or snowier than others. What we can control, as with everything, is our response to the winter impacts, our preparation for engaging with the season, and our attitude about the season. Maybe some of you will never love the winter months, but you can at the very least find things you appreciate about it and shift your focus to those.