Winter Harmony- Welcome Lisa Berkovitz

 

The Winter Harmony blog series is our gift to our beautiful community to help inspire and support you to live in harmony with winter. Join us and some amazing guest bloggers M-F during the month of January.

 

Click here to see all the Winter Harmony posts in one place.

 

Get your own

 

Winter Harmony Mandala to bring a little peace and joy to your winter season this year and see what message it has for you.

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Allow Winter To Nurture You (Even If You Don't Like The Cold!)

 

I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada where we definitely have "full-on" winter: freezing cold, blizzards, slush, need to warm the engine at least a bit before you drive...the whole nine yards.

 

Regardless of my birth location, however, I've never really embraced the experience of winter. I am more of a tropical breezes kind of gal, and happiest surrounded by lush trees and flowers and warm salt water where I can swim.

 

So what's a mis-placed tropics lover to do? Over the years, I've learned that there is actually an art to enjoying winter, one that simply requires my own willingness to receive joy and enjoyment wherever I am (a skill that takes a little time and practice to develop).

 

When it's cold and snowy outside, these are my top 10 favorite ways to enjoy "what is" so winter can contribute to me instead of bringing me down:

 

1. Get bundled up in the right gear (earmuffs and all) and go for a walk in freshly falling snow. There's a hush on everything, and the sight of the snowflakes and the peace of it all is truly blissful.

 

2. Make a pot of spicy chai tea and enjoy sipping it wrapped up in a blanket in front of the fire while enjoying the white of winter from the window.

 

3. Go to a hot yoga class (I particularly like the candlelit ones) and pretend you're in India sweating it out. :)

 

4. Join friends for skiiing, snowshoeing or tobogganing.

 

 

5. Book a trip to somewhere fabulously hot and savor the contrast when you get there! (Tropical breezes never felt so good!!!!)

 

6. Go to a February maple syrup festival (YUM).

 

7. Build a snowman or a snow fort. (Does wonders for bringing out your inner child)

 

8. Go ice skating while holding hands with someone who warms your heart (your honey, or perhaps a special kid in your life).

 

9. Drink steaming hot chocolate at the skating rink while the Zamboni refreshes the ice (or anywhere else, for that matter).

 

10. Turn inward. The darker, shorter days make introspection, journalling, reading and meditation easier and more delicious.

 

It IS possible to nurture and enjoy yourself during winter, and to let it contribute to you. This actually connects to a broader theme of knowing yourself well enough to know what you like, what works for you and what brings you pleasure. If you're willing to explore those things for yourself, you can EVEN turn winter into something you enjoy (at least some of the time, anyway). If I can do, it anyone can!

 

What's your favorite way to enjoy and nurture yourself in winter?

 

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Lisa Berkovitz is a "Sweet Spot" business coach and host of the Project Sweet Spot web TV interview series. She specializes in helping you, as a socially conscious entrepreneur, to create, market and sell your world-changing products and programs based on powerful alignment with who you really are, what matters to you most, and who you’re meant to serve. She knows that what's easiest, most inspiring, and most fun for you is the key to your greatest contribution, and can be translated into a thriving, remarkable business you love. You can also find Lisa here: www.projectsweetspot.com.