Wintering: Self Care for the Soul

Written By: Maria Martino, MHC-Intern

I’ll admit, I stumbled upon this quote from the book Wintering, by Katherine May, but I have not yet read it, although it’s on my list of things to do. But it did invoke in me how amazing plants and animals are as they adapt and prepare for the warmer months. Plants enter a dormant period during the winter essentially shutting down their growth processes to conserve energy and make sure they’re ready to spring back to life and blossom when the warm weather arrives. Animals live through freezing cold temperatures and barren land, storing food and sheltering for warmth and are somehow able to survive. They don’t fight the winter, resist the change or pretend everything is the same as it was in summer, instead they prepare for the new season.

We too need to take time for ourselves to survive during the transitional seasons of life, when we are hurting, grieving or transitioning into a new stage and we know things will no longer be the same. When we are faced with unexpected challenges, we can use this time to prepare and adapt. Sometimes we just need to shelter in place and embrace the changes ahead. Wintering can happen in any season, it’s a time of rest, growth, or release and every moment contributes to our healing. By honoring and embracing the seasons of our lives, we allow ourselves to heal in a deeper more meaningful way. Perhaps when we are going through the tough times, we should embrace it and accept it, instead of resisting. Sit with the pain and the discomfort and feel it. Healing often involves shedding old patterns, beliefs, or relationships that may be holding us back. Letting go can be challenging, but it allows us to move forward with greater clarity and focus. It’s also a time to celebrate the progress we’ve made, to honor the lessons learned, and to appreciate the wisdom of the experience. Use this time to celebrate your progress and acknowledge your strength. These quieter moments are essential for rejuvenation.

Sit in silence, meditate or take out your journal and discover what’s coming up for you. Is it fear, sadness, rage, guilt, confusion? It’s important to recognize these emotions in order to work through them, release them, and take the time you need to heal. Make space for those moments of reflection and introspection that will allow you to move through this time and become the person you are meant to be; to adapt and prepare for the new season in your life that may be very different from the one you’re in now. If we allow ourselves to transform and expect brighter days, we can move toward a more fulfilling next chapter. Don’t fight it. By allowing space to grow as a person we are in essence performing extraordinary acts of metamorphosis. As you navigate your own wintering, remember that you are not alone in this journey. No one is immune to adversity. Just as the natural world cycles through change, so too do we. Embrace the flow, trust the process, and know that tuning into the quiet will bring you freely into your best future.​