It’s that time of year again.
The beauty of winter has been largely erased. The once snow-flurried visage of snowglobe-like beauty that defines early winter through January has been melted down to an ever-eroding plane of goop, slush and pond scum.
And that’s on a nice day.
Otherwise, temperatures plunge below zero and harsh, bitter, stabbing cold slaps you in the face every time you so much as open your door. An abrupt reminder that you forgot to pack a scarf between preparing for your midterm and rushing out the door. You spend your weeks in a state of anticipation, dreaming of warmer days, sun and the ability to no longer regret your choice to wear pants that touch the ground.
Punxsutawney Phil fears us Midwesterners because his predictions bear no value to us. We expect and accept our fates long before he even awakens.
To put it bluntly, this time of year sucks.
Even the nice days leave something to be desired, and we’re left on our toes trying to predict what to wear or do in the face of 50-degree temperature fluctuations. Spring semester should be renamed slush semester at this point.
Sometimes this time of year is about just surviving and staying warm. Motivation to do anything dwindles. This could be due to either seasonal depression or general polar malaise.
Jacob Wittrig, a second-year student at the University of Minnesota, said it’s tempting to stay inside all winter.
“It’s just difficult to live somewhere cold because it takes more energy to go do stuff,” Wittrig said.
Our immediate surroundings may be somewhat miserable and harsh, but we aren’t — or at least not especially. I’m not here to tell you all that the glass is half-full because it’s not. Chances are the glass was left in your car and is more than half-frozen over, but that’s okay.
A glass that’s mostly frozen is still fuller than an empty one. We should all take stock of how much we have to be grateful for and how much this season has to offer us in the avenues of mental fortitude and resilience.
It’s an odd time in that the prettiest days are usually the worst to be outside. I often find myself gazing fondly out the window on my commutes, only to face the brisk reality once I reach my destination.
Simon Fitzkappes, a first-year student, said there is beauty to be found in this weather.
“I like to turn my focus away from the pessimism of just like the biting cold and more toward just focusing on how beautiful the snow looks every day,” Fitzkappes said.
A good way to ward off cabin fever is to remember how fortunate we are to have someplace to stay.
The cabin is less of a prison and more of a safe haven in this way. We know that eventually there will come a time when warm weather will stay, we just have to bide our time. Others are not as fortunate.
Pranav Menon, a graduate student at the University, said while surviving winter takes grit, we should also account for our comparatively fortunate circumstances.
“There is an aspect tied to resilience which living through winters gives you, but at the same time I don’t think it should be romanticized,” Menon said. “But we should also think about how during winter, how problems like homelessness and all of that can also be addressed because someone who’s homeless in this winter cannot survive.”
We live in a place where without the amenities that we’ve been afforded, such as innovations in thermal clothing, insulation and shelter, we would struggle infinitely more. It’s something to think about as we traverse through our days, how truly lucky we are to have a place to go and external protection from our harsh environment.
Sam Rose, a second-year student, said the physical tools we use to cope with the weather shouldn’t go unappreciated.
“I do have the privilege of being able to access things like thermals and a thermostat and wool socks and all that,” Rose said. “So, I think that winter is just going to be easier for someone like me.”
Liza Meredith, assistant professor of psychology at the University, said winter leads to more innovation interpersonally and provides more opportunity for exploration of solitary interests and activities.
“I know for me, I will go to the theater more, I go to people’s houses more,” Meredith said. “Also, I think you can pursue some of your own hobbies at home, like getting into knitting or calling more friends, or reading more books, or watching more movies. You can find things that you enjoy inside and maybe give you an opportunity to pursue things that you don’t always pursue when you’re out of the house more.”
While this part of the season is somewhat difficult to romanticize, it reminds us of the innovations and amenities we’ve been afforded to cope with the sometimes despotic dreariness that characterizes winters in the Midwest.
It can be tough, but it’s best to remember how much we have at our disposal in order to survive during this stretch of the year. We cope not only mentally, but physically. It’s important to remember that this time of year is difficult to trudge through, but not impossible thanks to the tools we have at our frostbitten fingertips.
Don’t give yourself too hard of a time right now. Not every chapter guarantees or needs romance, adventure or pleasant circumstances.
These winters have not only built our character, but our infrastructure, community and way of life. We still have a long way to go in each of those components, but we should never forget the importance of where we are now in anticipation of what’s to come.
