It is the middle of February in southern Romania. Everything
outside is cold, wet and muddy, aka not at all pleasant. I have not left Olt
county in almost two months. It is safe to say I have a little cabin fever and
I am impatiently waiting for spring to come.
However, the last couple months have actually been really
good. I realized that God filled this season with a lot of small yet beautiful
and joyful moments.
Here are 10 small ways I discovered to help fight the winter
blues:
- Wake up intentionally. When it is cold, dark and gray outside, you usually want to stay curled up asleep under warm blankets. But I have found that waking up early to have intentional time with the Lord helps feed my soul as well as set myself up for the rest of the day.
- Read a book. If you’re going to be stuck inside because of the weather, you might as well pick up a book. You can let your mind be inspired with true stories and encouraging words or you can let your imagination escape into other worlds.
- Get creative. A little color and design goes a long way in the gray of winter, especially when you can use that creativity to brighten someone else’s day. And don’t worry about it being perfect, just get creative!
- Reach out. Remember that you are probably not the only one experiencing the winter blues. Reach out, offer to get together with a good friend or even someone new and encourage one another.
- Pray intentionally. Prayer can be an incredibly life-giving activity, especially when shared with brothers and sisters in Christ. From a daily prayer time with my best friend to praying through scripture with the women in my ministry, prayer has been a joy these last months. (Plus the more prayers we pray, the more prayers God can answer!)
- Make something from scratch in the kitchen. While I have never loved cooking, there is a feeling of accomplishment when you make a meal from scratch. My personal favorite is a delicious homemade soup, perfect for warming you up on a cold day.
- Share a meal. Food always tastes better when you share it with others. I am blessed to be in a community and culture that believes in hospitality and sharing a meal together. It is a simple reminder that I am not alone.
- Say “Yes”. If you’re like me, cold weather can lower your motivation to go out, especially if an activity was not pre-planned. However, some of my favorite moments happened from saying “yes” to the unexpected.
- Document. Whether you use pictures or a journal or something else entirely, it is important to document the small moments that make you smile, especially in harder seasons. I use this as a form of reflection on all the ways God has provided joy in my life.
- Be thankful. As you document and reflect, remember to thank the Lord for all He has done, even if it is just a collection of small moments. Gratitude is an easy way to shift your thinking in any season.
