Embrace the Chill and Lean Into the Discomfort

Thoughts from a chilly walk

Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

Today I learned how to embrace the chill.

And I’m not talking about the relaxed kind of “chill” — although that’s always a good thing to embrace too.

I’m talking about the chill in the air. Why the heck does this matter, you ask?

Well, let me give you some background.

I Really Hate the Cold

I’m not someone who enjoys being cold. It’s funny because I live in Canada (one of the coldest places on earth). But I really don’t like it. I like warmth.

I love bright sunshine, crackling fires and cozy sweaters.

In stark contrast, I don’t like the way the frigid cold seeps through my layers of clothing and seems to wrap itself around my very bones. It unsettles me.

That’s why I prefer the comfort of warmth. It envelopes and reassures me. Nothing calms me more than sitting by a crackling fire that kisses my skin. And nothing feels as protective as winter clothes. I like the way chunky gloves and scarves and sweaters cocoon me, shielding me from the world outside.

And I love the way the sun shines in the sky like a giant spotlight, generously spilling its rays down on me. I turn like a plant…