Winter Wonderment 2011: A Self Care Top Ten List

As many of you know, though technically the shortest month of the year, February often drags into March.  So as a way to honor this month and the season of Winter, I have put together the following top ten list of self care techniques, titled Winter Wonderment 2011.

1.  Hibernate.  Only six weeks remain of Winter, take advantage of the time to get caught up on personal reflection time and sleep.
2. Eat hot soup.  Usually full of healthy vegetables and nutrients, savor the warmth and nourishment of this delectable food.
3.  Play in the snow.  Yeah, that’s right, when available, take advantage of the snow, grab a sled and have some fun.  No sled, make a snow angel or a snow man in the front yard.  Enjoy the frosty white stuff, it is a gift.
4.  Get crafty.  Time to pull out that un-finished project from the closet or garage and slowly work on it to completion.  Just the satisfaction of the creativity combined with a job well done is worth the effort.
5.  Tea.  Or Coffee.  Or Hot Chocolate.  Whatever your preference, enjoy hot beverages as often as possible being mindful of what it feels like in your hands or the sensation of warmth that it brings you as you swallow.
6.  Reconnect.  Call up an old friend that you haven’t talked to in awhile….maybe a long while.  Just pick up the phone and dial the number.  Start with ‘hello.’
7.  Savor the Silence.  Don’t you just love the silence right after a heavy snow?  These moments are precious and far and few between.
8.  Breathe in deeply the cold air and feel its sharpness in your lungs.  Isn’t it great to be alive!
9.  Go slow.  Intentionally.  Everything will get done eventually.  If not, let me let you in on a little secret:  you are probably the only one who will know what is left undone.
10.  Do what makes you happy.  Whatever it is, enjoy it.  Fires, long walks, knitting, contemplation, snow, tea or silently reflecting on the sun hitting the ice, all of these things are created for our wonderment.  Winter Wonderment.