Winter Companions

As we head into the (sled)dog days of winter, we hope this message is finding you well and warm.  Back in December and early January we were still giving in to the delusion that the unseasonably warm weather would continue right into Spring, but soon enough, the cold reality of Winter made its presence felt.  Winter brought his old companions—Cold, Sluggishness and Blues.  Even Snooze Button came along this year!  They came knocking at our door and immediately took up residence, making themselves at home wherever they pleased.  The situation was not looking promising, but then a funny thing happened—we noticed that Winter had another group of friends, a more secret society that you need to open your eyes and mind more fully to see—

Clarity and Hope appeared one especially crisp morning as the sun shone brilliantly upon our faces, we had the opportunity to meet Determination as we walked through hail and pounding wind, Indescribable Beauty took the form of snow settling on tree branches and icicles dangling from our gutters and Bliss went sledding with us after a recent storm.

In his book Awakening to the Buddha Within, Lama Surya Das writes “You don’t need to see different things, but rather to see things differently.”  Winter can be a magical time of discovery, reflection and yes, inspiration.  Perhaps you’re associating with the wrong group of Winter’s friends, perhaps it’s just how you associate with Winter.  Either way, you have the power to change your outlook, to warm yourself from within!