Winter is coming whether you like it or not
Light the fire and pass the blanket ❄⛄
This time last year, we went to the pub for what would be our final burgers and pints of 2020. Indeed, 12 months have passed since the start of our longest lockdown.
Now it’s 2021 and, with 50,000 new cases a day, we’re not quite out of the woods yet. However, most of us are fully vaccinated, still masking up and enjoying the freedoms we could only dream of at the start of the year.
So, what does winter 2021 hold for us?
I wonder if I’m alone in feeling like the excitement of being allowed to go out and about again has died down, and I’m no longer rushing to book tables at my favourite restaurants or fill my diary with every possible social event.
Obviously, we have no idea if we’ll be placed under restrictions or even face another lockdown. But, with that in mind, we can still look towards the winter with positivity, rather than the usual dread that comes with cold weather and dark nights.
Honestly, I think winter gets a bad rap.
Every year, we treat spring as an opportunity for a fresh start, while the threat of incoming winter fills many of us with dread, particularly if you are prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (aptly known as “SAD”). So, at least now you know if you are dreading the next season, and the low mood that comes with it, then you’re not alone
This year, I’m treating winter as an opportunity to rest and recuperate. I’m excited to light our fire, drink mulled everything and close my curtains at 4 pm sharp. I asked the Twittersphere what they were most looking forward to about winter, and here’s what they had to say:
You can read all the responses here - guaranteed to give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
What are your favourite things about winter? And how do you prepare for any impending low mood, or even SAD? Let me know over on Twitter @ContentByTheSea or reply to this email for a chat.
📚 On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
A beautiful and heartfelt story structured as a letter from a son to his mother, a second-generation immigrant from Vietnam living in the US. I was recommended this by so many people and I can see why it is such a revered piece. Highly recommend if you love writing.
🎥 Dune (2021) & 📚 Dune (1965)
I finished the audiobook of Dune and finally got to see the new epic feature film at the cinema - our first trip post-Covid! As an avid sci-fi fantasy read, I respect what Frank Herbert did for the genre, but I do feel the book is a little dated now. However, the film was incredible and I loved every second of it - the cinematography and score really stood out for me, we’ll definitely be renting it to watch again at home soon.
That’s all from me this week, it’s been extremely busy at Content By The Sea HQ and we’ve actually closed our books for new clients until 2022 🎉 A victory I hope to celebrate at some point soon, between the torrent of web and content projects on our desk.
See you on Twitter, or next week for more about work and mental health in the online world in Conversations By The Sea!
Ellen x
Enjoyed this? You might like these past issues:
20 October: I got sick
13 October: This girl is me
6 October: Everything is awful… or is it?
29 September: That’s dope
22 September: Have a word with yourself
15 September: Running changed my life
8 September: Okay, boomer
25 August: Bridezilla returns
18 August: Find your zen
10 August: The fear factor
Winter does get a bad rap doesn't it indeed. I think it has it's merits personally. I actually love a winter walk and in some ways prefer to hike the hills of Surrey at this time of year rather than on a hot summer's day. You can add layers. There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.
We are planning for Christmas with a kind of laid back, cautious excitement!