By Joanne MacInnis RN CDP, President, Aberdeen Home Care, Inc.
Halloween weekend is a big one.
Firstly, Halloween, on October 31, falls on a Friday, followed by the end of daylight-saving time and the turning of the clocks back by one hour on November 1, which is also All Saints' Day. Just when you thought that was enough… the Full Beaver Moon arrives on 11/5. I’m not entirely sure what all that means… but it’s a Halloween weekend for the books.
As we come into the darker season, how will it find us? What does it have to offer? What do we have to gain from getting in step with the flow of the seasons? We make accommodations as soon as we feel a real chill in the air or have a heavy frost. Our meals tend to gravitate towards warm, comfort foods: beef stew, chicken pot pie, soups, and chowder. We layer up, pull out the books, and the knitting basket may make an appearance. Socks again grace feet that have been without since May.
How does being in the flow with the change of seasons potentially add value to our lives?
I am someone who has chanted, “I hate winter,” long and loud, for a long time. For five years, I escaped the dreaded season and wintered in Florida. Life happens, and that respite came to an end, and I’m back here freezing. It’s going to be a long and painful season unless I can have an attitude adjustment. I know for me, my lack of power to make the glory days of a warm September last all winter is discouraging. I will it and will it not to get cold and dark, but alas… it happens.
“If only I had the time.” For some of us, winter gives no reprieve. Children with heavy school, sports, and music schedules leave parents with little to no relief. The change of season may not compute. As part of our quest for being “present” and “mindful,” take inventory. Feel the cool air and be aware of how different our environment is as daylight fades. Do we feel any different? Is our inner tempo the same?
It seems what nature is telling us is that it’s time to slow down, even if just a little. Come inside. Slow it down. Lean into the change. What if we were a little more “in touch” with the world around us? If we felt the cool air, if we really looked at what’s happening to our natural world, our beloved world of green and color, as it turns muted and brown… and white.
Living with a two-year-old continues to brighten my dreary winter attitude. If it rains, my prince makes the best of it. If it’s nasty outside, we stay in and play. He is so in the moment and eager to experience it; the collateral beauty sideswipes me. It seems like a burgeoning life motto: “make the best of it.” Somehow. Good job, kid.
I feel a deep sigh coming from my bones.
Old Man Winter, you are coming. I don’t want to resist; I don’t want to resent you or pine for warmer days. I want to be present inside the cold, the darkness, and be ok with it. Maybe even find its blessing. What will I do with my wintertime? I’d like to get something accomplished: the photo box, the blanket I started last February, and empty the storage container … and I’d like to feel as if I am in sync with the natural world.
We need to be mindful of all the dangers that accompany darkness, snow, and ice, as well as the potential pranks that can accompany trick-or-treating, and staying warm and upright. As we put our lights on timers, get the sand, salt, and shovels ready, we know what’s coming and what will be needed.
There may be something for you in the change of seasons this year that you have missed. Keep an open mind… I’m going to try very hard. I just bought myself a new pair of super-duper, high-test LL Bean slippers. Embracing what is... oh, and the slippers were on sale. Check ‘em out.
Joanne MacInnis, RN, is the founder and president of Aberdeen Home Care, Inc., of Danvers, a concierge private duty home care agency in business since 2001. With 35 years of nursing practice, management and administration experience focused on home care and hospice, Joanne and her team specialize in advising and supporting families addressing the elders in their lives retain dignity and quality of life.
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