Winter Time

Time in winter is a funny thing.

At the end of October, I had planned to devote my free time in November, December, and into January leisurely learning new things and working on redoing my site and portfolio. I thought I’d read books, for both leisure and learning, and still have time to revel in the beauty and light that really picks up after Thanksgiving and lasts until New Year’s.

But Christmas always comes fast, and then there’s hardly time to breathe before New Year’s festivities set in. There’s really nothing leisurely about that part of the year. October, November, and December sometimes feel like they’re packed into the space of just a month and a half.

After New Year’s, it seems that time slows down, at least for us in the Northeastern U.S. There’s no magical, warm holiday to look forward to — just slush, snow that’s worn out its welcome, bitter cold, and dark. These days, it feels like if the high breaches 25 degrees, it’s a warm, pleasant day, even if there’s ice on the ground and it takes 10 minutes to get bundled before going outside. January, February, and March feel like they stretch the length of at least four months.

I’ve made the mistake of wishing time away before, and it’s hard not to fall into that now. Fast-forward to April: Daylight savings time, non-freezing temperatures. It’s tempting, for sure. But I’m trying to not wish away my life. To be here, in this. The slow winter time.