My friend recommended Wintering to me years ago, and I picked it up last fall because I was preparing for a winter in my own life. Reading it made me realize that I've only experienced summer thus far in my life and how lucky I am to have not needed to winter for 39 years. It made me feel a lot better about wintering now. It is comforting to hear that drawing back from the world and slowing down is completely normal, and a person can't live a long and healthy life without the occasional winter. It also made me realize that I was lucky to have time to prepare for my winter because that isn't always the case.
The part of the book that's a reflection on the actual season of winter read a bit odd to me, as I was born and raised in wintery Saskatoon! Her observations and experiences were so different than my own, though seeing winter from another perspective was interesting.
This was a life-changing book for me. I don't think I would have been so accepting of having to quiet things down in my life if I hadn't read this book. It was a comfort to read.
Ashleigh, these are really beautiful reflections. Thank you so much for sharing them--they're a gift in my afternoon. The sun is shining today, but I hear you on the actual season of winter. When it was minus 40, snow everywhere, a UK winter seemed remote. But I really appreciate what you share about the experience of winter and how important it is to draw back from the world and slow down.
I hope the sun was warm through your window today, or you perhaps even got outside. In the UK, my family are sending photos of snowdrops.
I have started reading Wintering but haven't got quite as far as I would have liked - mostly because some things were feeling a bit close to the bone as I found myself with some unexplained health problems, but also because I have been experiencing a hot and humid summer and it all felt a bit 'out of place'. I have truly loved her lyrical writing, however, and feel there is much insight to gather... and I have winter in front of me - both the season and working through my time of wintering.
Thank you, Cate. This is all very insightful and true to the reading of the book—hot and humid summer would be a strange time to settle fully into the work and I’m hopeful that your health problems haven’t got in the way of long outdoor walks and sunshine. Thanks for sharing all this xoxox
My friend recommended Wintering to me years ago, and I picked it up last fall because I was preparing for a winter in my own life. Reading it made me realize that I've only experienced summer thus far in my life and how lucky I am to have not needed to winter for 39 years. It made me feel a lot better about wintering now. It is comforting to hear that drawing back from the world and slowing down is completely normal, and a person can't live a long and healthy life without the occasional winter. It also made me realize that I was lucky to have time to prepare for my winter because that isn't always the case.
The part of the book that's a reflection on the actual season of winter read a bit odd to me, as I was born and raised in wintery Saskatoon! Her observations and experiences were so different than my own, though seeing winter from another perspective was interesting.
This was a life-changing book for me. I don't think I would have been so accepting of having to quiet things down in my life if I hadn't read this book. It was a comfort to read.
Ashleigh, these are really beautiful reflections. Thank you so much for sharing them--they're a gift in my afternoon. The sun is shining today, but I hear you on the actual season of winter. When it was minus 40, snow everywhere, a UK winter seemed remote. But I really appreciate what you share about the experience of winter and how important it is to draw back from the world and slow down.
I hope the sun was warm through your window today, or you perhaps even got outside. In the UK, my family are sending photos of snowdrops.
xox
Alice
I have started reading Wintering but haven't got quite as far as I would have liked - mostly because some things were feeling a bit close to the bone as I found myself with some unexplained health problems, but also because I have been experiencing a hot and humid summer and it all felt a bit 'out of place'. I have truly loved her lyrical writing, however, and feel there is much insight to gather... and I have winter in front of me - both the season and working through my time of wintering.
Thank you, Cate. This is all very insightful and true to the reading of the book—hot and humid summer would be a strange time to settle fully into the work and I’m hopeful that your health problems haven’t got in the way of long outdoor walks and sunshine. Thanks for sharing all this xoxox