Last year, when we were in the peculiar limbo of knowing we were moving back to Cleveland but not having moved yet, I watched my Facebook feed with dismay as the snow piled up and up and up and up and… you get the idea.
It snows a lot in Cleveland (the lake effect, no, not the movie – this), and it’s windy, and winter can last awhile. We were spoiled in Baltimore, where they cancel school when there’s even a possibility of snow (true story).
When people asked why we were moving back, I would quip “well, it’s not for the weather,” but after a while of this mock-grousing, I realized that if I were to survive winter, I needed to revamp my attitude. I didn’t want to complain for four (or five or six) months about the weather because I felt like it would make me miserable.
But I didn’t know what to do, really, because getting little kids in and out of the car in the winter is a pain, no question about it. And walking to a Shabbos meal when you can’t push your stroller on the sidewalk and the street isn’t much better isn’t fun either. Or safe.
As I was despairing of my ability to be positive, I found this:
“I don’t speak a lick of Danish, but recently learned a great word that describes a very particular feeling. Hygge (pronounced “hYOOguh“?) often translates to “cozy” — though it connotes much more. From what I gather, it means something like “fireplace warmth with candles and family and friends and food, tucked under blankets on a snowy day, cup-of- coffee conversation, scarf-snuggle, squiggly, warm baby love.” Or something like that.”
That’s right! Scandinavians know ALL ABOUT winter and cold and things like that, and they tend to be happy, right (broad generalization, I know, but there’s this)?
So I decided that this winter, I’m going to try my hand at creating that Hygge feeling. I have: sweaters, gloves, hats, am working on the boots thing, coats. I’m making hot chocolate, remembering to warm up the car early enough to actually have it not be freezing when we get into it, and admiring the whiteness.
That’s my plan. If you still want to complain about the winter, by all means, don’t let my relentless cheerfulness and optimism stop you. And you can always stop by for some hot chocolate.
Rivki Silver ~ thoughts & music 
I’d love to stop by for some hot chocolate! And on my way home I’d take some snow with me! I’m really envious you have snow (just to add a ifferent point of view… ;-) ). Maybe you could tell it to come here?
Here they don’t cancel school (unless there’s really A LOT of snow), but public transport completely breaks down as soon it’s below zero and three or four snowflakes show up. An annoying problem, all this surprising winter weather in December and January…
It’s funny – living in California, I find that people kvetch a lot about the “cold” weather (50 degrees!). I actually associate cold weather with positive cozy feelings from my childhood. I recall coming home in the dusk, in winter evenings finding warm dinners and heated home after a long day at school. Usually after a short walk in the cold weather all bundled up in winter coat, scarf etc. So your post really resonates with me. I miss the 4 seasons of my East coast upbringing.
A refreshing take on refreshing weather! Good Shabbos!
That’s a good attitude! I’ve had to adopt something similar spending my adult life in Minnesota.