Freezing Flower Child

Hello ! I've heard that someone who is truly joyful is content in any season, but it is so difficult for me to feel as free in the fall and winter as i do in the spring and summer. I miss running through fields of flowers, making crowns out of daisies, "painting" friends yellow with dandelions, skinny dipping, rolling around in the green grass, wearing light clothing and feeling the warmth of the sun, dancing in the rain (difficult to enjoy when you're already freezing), and most of all: WALKING BAREFOOT! </3 Exercise, meditation, yoga, sledding, ice skating, and igloo building w/ friends keep me content through it all, but I was wondering if there are any other ways to nurture a free spirit, a hippie soul, during the cold seasons? Thank you, thank you, thank you!:sunny:

 

I've heard all kind of wonderful, affirming philosophy about enjoying the here and now, embracing winter for all it's glory. What a load of total bullshit. Cold/winter/snow all suck goat dick or worse in my opinion so I'm with you kid. All I gotta say to winter lovers is:"fine, go sit yer ass in a snowdrift and turn blue".

What can get ya through it? A plane ticket south is my first choice but I usually don't get to do that. I built a plant room on the side of my house, lottsa windows and grow lights. I keep it filled with house plants and anything I can force to bloom. It helps me to have live, green plants to tend to and brighten the gloom. Going to a rec center or someplace with an indoor pool is nice too. I read tons of books that help me escape so I can get lost in my mind and forget my ass is turnin blue.
When I can I head for the equator where it's nice and roasty hot. It's great to be skinny-dippin in a creek or lake in January, wearing Tee shirts, shorts and sandals.
Hope ya make it through I sure understand what your saying.

 

We get it, you're 16 and desperately wish it was 1965, and a few thousand miles south of where you are.

Fucking christ.... I know I'm still going barefoot, and there's plenty to do. If you don't like clothes go fuckin' freeze for all (most) anyone cares.

 

Keep beliving in what you believe in - it is the cornerstone of individualist philosophy

 

I am not a lover of winter and only tolerate it because I have no choice.

During the colder months I tend to plan out my time for the warmer months as it gives me hope that it is coming and I can then cope better with the snow and winter madness.

It helps me to also have brighter colours around me so I tend to decorate with more summer tones than dark ones.

When all else fails, I look at the calender and convince myself that winter really does pass as quickly as the other seasons.

 

Hey man, buy good winter clothing and go outside. I walk my dog every day, that means plus 30C to -30C. (I live in Canada) You get used to/tolerate the cold if you are out in it everyday.

The other choice is to move to a bug infested, tornado spawning area to enjoy +40C with so much humidity, you can't sweat.

We all have choices

 

If I annoy you so much then why do you keep commenting on everything I post? I'm just trying to find ways to enjoy the winter, and didn't come here for your negativity.

 

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

 

Having thought about this again, beyond just being content, as you say, I should think if you can't be free simply because of the (totally natural, and in fact, highly desirable, with what's happening to the globe) cold weather, you're one of the LEAST free people I know..... Being free doesn't have anything to do with not wearing shoes or a parka, you go without to be free because you don't need them, but if they are needed, then putting them on gives you freedom, while just grumbling about not being free because it's cold makes you comically UN-free.

My $0.02.

And of course, it limits you SOME.... I wish I could go see why my car's pissing oil everywhere and try to fix it before my long drive later today, but it's pretty cold, we'll see..... but working around what the planet throws at you and not letting it throw a monkey wrench in your mood or functioning is at the center of being free, one of the most basic parts of it.

 

Even though some of your comments can hurt my feelings (I'm too sensitive, I know), I like how you make me see from other perspectives, so thank you very much. I try to look for the good in winter, I'm still happy, but I was jsut wondering if anyone had any other tips of keeping a cheerful mindset. My doctor said I may also have SAD, seasonal affective disorder. But I'm trying to not let that label hold me down.

 

Well it's the Christmas season right now, so get into the spirit, observe it in your own non-commercialized way. Party hearty on New Years Eve. Then,

Build a hippie snow man

Try skiing or snow shoeing

Keep having indoor parties/get togethers

Movies, concerts, museums

High School sports

Snow ball fights!

 

barefoot, sorry if I am a bit brutal..... glad you're paying some attention to what I say anyway, though.

If you have seasonal problems, I strongly recommend a few powerful halogen floor lamps, of the kind with the lamp in a pan on top of a long stand, so that it points up and uses your ceiling to reflect the light everywhere. That and warmth and bright colours. A lot of those problems are light-related. (maybe NOT wear thick clothes around the light, so you get some on your skin, and take vitamins too, specifically D vitamins-could also try stuff like 5-HTP or st. johns' wort)

 

Thank you both, such excellent suggestions!

 

I can't stand cold, especially snow, and I've been living in such a place for 4 yeras, but I'm finally moving back to sunny San Diego!

 

I hate winter because it gets slippery when the snow starts melting. And the roads are full of salt/sand. Other than that winter is natural. Also good for your immune system. Sure you might get a cold or something, but if your immune system is more active, it gets stronger.

 

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."-Albert Camus:sunny:


Winter is very beautiful in it's own peculiar way. There is a stillness and deep meditative quietness after a snowstorm that just cannot be matched. And also the beautiful Cardinals and Chickadees that stop by my house for food. I was born in Spain and the part I was from didn't get any snow. Now in the US I absolutely love it. Nothing like sitting warm in your house reading a good book by the fireplace while the snow falls The look of snow on the ground is very beautiful as well.And then in March when the crocus and snowdrops start coming out and blooming. It always makes me feel good. Can't have those beautiful spring flowers without the cold winter weather.

 

Yes !

 

wow! you are so right, winter does indeed have it's own ebauty. thank you, thank you, thank you! i'm probably depending too much on my circumstances for happiness. my mom wants to get me on anti-depressants, just during the winter. i'm starting to think i should, since it is the same thing every winter, and it can be hell. i really do appreciate all of your wonderful advice and compassion<3

 

You really should not be on antidepressants..... Seriously! Big Pharma's trap of a lifetime, that. Get some sunshine and use supplements if you have to, but stay away from the poison.

 

when cold is too cold i visualize myself as my spirit animal, (bear) in a coat of fur. of course bears hibernate so i just naturally supress my feelings in the winter so it doesnt get to me too often... connect with your spirit guide it helps! if not meditate on somewhere with warm weather? visualization is the light at the end of the tunnel when ya find yourself in struggles! =] peace!!