One of my ordinary heroes is my grandfather, Grandpa Dick. When he died a few years ago, I had the honor of writing his obituary. He always supported everything I did, including my writing. I wrote about his leap of faith to becoming the first of his rural, farming family to go to college and later seminary, about how his greatest joy was his family, and about his multi-faceted interests—from construction to choral singing, from baking bread to reading biographies. I don’t know if he was always like this, but during my lifetime my grandpa was one of the most content people I’ve ever known.
One lesson he taught me—simply by living—was to lean into the seasons. Grandpa Dick embraced what each season had to offer and he did it with joy and purpose. Here in Minnesota, we get all 4 seasons. Each season brings new activities, new recipes, new challenges, new joys. For Grandpa, winter meant homemade soup and Norwegian sweaters. Making lefse, flat bread, and fruit soup for Christmas. Choral and orchestra concerts. In the spring, strawberries for jam. Traveling. Visiting family. In the summer, months up at the lake, sitting by a fire, canoeing, and hosting guests. In the fall, marveling in the wonder of the changing leaves. He used to say “feast your eyes!” when taking in the glory of a maple tree ablaze in red, orange, and yellow.
I’ve been thinking about Grandpa Dick a lot as we round the curve into the holiday season. I will miss him at our family dinner table at Thanksgiving and Christmas. But even on these ordinary days, I think of him too.
The days are short, our time outside is limited. It’s very cold and life becomes more inward again. Winter is my least favorite season, which is unfortunate because it’s so long. But I’m trying, like Grandpa, to embrace what it has to offer. I’m trying to pay attention to the blessing of slowing down, staying home more, and leaning into the Danish concept of hygge.
For me, this looks like starting new hobbies. Each winter I try something new. I’ve dabbled in knitting and crocheting. I’ve learned embroidery. I’ve enjoyed painting wooden toys and peg doll Nativity sets. I’ve started book clubs. This year, I took a watercolor painting class in the fall and now I’m starting this newsletter. (Here’s hoping this is a hobby that lasts more than one winter!)
I make soups and stews, including some of my Grandpa’s recipes. And I curl up under my favorite blanket to write or read and watch shows. I was gifted several card and board games from our local Buy Nothing Group to play with our kids, and that’s been a surprising joy in this change of seasons too.
How do you embrace winter or the changing of the seasons? What’s bringing you contentment right now?
If this resonates with you, please comment or share. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks for reading.
—NK