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Embrace Winter's Challenges: Choose Resilience in Harsh Winters
- Derek Arsenault (CSEP-CPT, PN1)
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
This winter in the Quinte region, we have been pummelled with an old school Canadian winter. One that many young folks probably have not really experienced. I honestly do my best to not let the season (or others complaining about the season) get me down each year. But this year, Mother Nature is testing us all without question. Winter days are dark, the snow is relentless this year, the cold is brutal some weeks.
This is Canada without question. 🇨🇦
It's certainly been the topic of conversation in so many ways. From winter blues, to travel conditions, to closures, to the tough start to the year that us small businesses have had thanks to Mother Nature's actions. I'm not denying, it's sucked. It's really tough some days.
Today was one of those days. After a big storm to start the week that killed our day with clients, this morning I was looking forward to a "regular" Tuesday with client sessions. But then... what do ya know, more snow!! Thank goodness!! I mean it was almost 24hrs since my last shovel. Oh how I missed it. 🙄😳
Mid morning, the day began to turn for me. Cancellations were coming in and the day was breaking up fast. And this is where I was becoming hyper aware of HOW I WAS FEELING. What started as a "let's take on the day" mindset, quickly became an overwhelmed and exhausted mindset, which has been a "feature" of January 2026. I was walking home for lunch, just amazed with it all and totally feeling just plain DONE. I decided there was no way I was going to play tennis this afternoon, despite enjoying that time with my friends each week, I was not in the headspace to play in a dark, cold dome today (or deal with the re-routed traffic due to accidents everywhere on the highways).
I needed a change. I needed to focus closer to home.
By the time I got home I knew I was heading to the woods. That's always my medicine. The sun was shining (a bit - which is WAY more than it's been the last few weeks), there's no wind, and it's certainly a nice cold (not a bitter bone chiller). I NEEDED to CHOOSE sunshine and fresh air for the sake of my headspace. Not to mention, perfect snow for snowshoeing! Boom! Decision made. This was my tool to get some good vibes in.
I asked my daugher and her boyfriend if they wanted to join me. I figured her boyfriend maybe had never been, and I was right. They agreed and the three of us headed out this afternoon. It was just what I needed! Nature, family and a "lift up" rather than that dark, cold "blahs" that we've all felt this month.
Winter Blues and CHOICE
I've had some conversations with clients recently who have shared their recent "blah-ness" in their weeks. We've discussed the fact that humans throughout evolution SLOWED DOWN in the winter months. Naturally. It also naturally brings the winter blues. It's cold, it's dark, harsher days... this is NORMAL. Not to mention, living in the Great White North, it's even MORE normal for us. That said, it's important to remind ourselves that it's not something "wrong with us". It's ok. It's not fun, but it's ok.
What we DO need to remember though is that we ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES. This type of Canadian winter is when we need to CHOOSE to utilize the tools we've learned through our life experiences to help us manage and move through the winter months. Use the tools that PROMOTE positive vibes and wellbeing. Dwelling on how much "winter sucks" or "how much we hate it" WILL NOT serve us in ANY WAY, except take us deeper into the winter blues.
We ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES. Choices don't mean "easy", but you ALWAYS have choices. Today I CHOSE to get out into nature to promote a switch from being shut in more than not the past few weeks due to the weather. Get outside of the 4-walls of home and work, get natural light, get fresh air... Just something different. That does ALOT for your psyche. Change your environment. Change your routine just a touch. Do something you ENJOY.
Keep Your Blues to Yourself!
Whatever you CHOOSE, whether to be miserable ALL winter or to balance your "blah" days with some positive vibes to manage as best you can, be mindful of keeping your blues to yourself. Don't get so miserable about the winter months that you bring a room down kind of thing. Just because YOU choose to be miserable for a quarter of the year each year, doesn't mean others want the same.
Ever notice how those who complain most about how much they "hate winter", also "hate the rain in the spring", "hate the heat of the summer months" and "hate the dampness of the fall"?? It's not a coincidence. We've talked many times here about the fact that we become good at what we do most. If you practice being ticked off at the winter months, day in, day out, then you're well on your way by the time the other 3-seasons hit to being a professional downer.
Again, it's NOT easy. It's certainly NOT all fun and rainbows. I'm totally tired of shovelling this year (and there's no where left to put it!!). But I'll say it again - We ALL HAVE CHOICES. If you REALLY hate winter so much in Canada, MOVE!! Seriously. Like I said, all choices aren't easy, but you can't say "well, I can't do that". Sure you can! We're all adults - Move somewhere with no snow, ice and winter if you dislike it so much. Here's the thing; When you go wherever you go, you'll find something to be grumpy about there as well, guaranteed (because you're good at it!):
...Too many hurricanes and alligators in Florida
...Too much ever-changing whether near the ocean (rain, fog, wind and who knows what else)
...Too hot near the desert in Nevada or Arizona
...Too much rain and fog in BC
...Too much dark half the year in Nunavut (and too much light the other half)
I came across this video on YouTube before Christmas about a woman who lives in Yakutsk, Russia (the coldest city on Earth). At temperatures of -71 Celsius, people STAY and live. Think about that. We complain about our winters, yet people are CHOOSING to live in place where they have to take a ton of time getting dressed to stay SAFE, not just warm! WE ALL CAN MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES. Whatever you CHOOSE don't complain because YOU chose it.
The Winter Blues Teach us about Ourselves if we Listen
Life is hard. No matter where we go. Every generation has different hardships to face. We technically are living in the LEAST trying times in human civilization.
... Abundance of food
... Temperature controlled homes
... Abundance of "stuff"
... Some of us have cottages or additional homes, in addition to our usual home
... We all have jobs, careers and/or are retired from a long career
... We have access to a world of information at our fingertips
... We are STUPIDELY, OVER-comfortable in our lifestyles
All of these points making a little adversity (like not being in control of the weather) harder on us, because it's a discomfort and it's NOT always easy. But Mother Nature is our best teacher, and she's teaching us more about ourselves in every season than we realize.
For example, has complaining about winter so passionately each year helped you? Do you enjoy feeling down most days all winter long, every year? Do you enjoy that added stress on your mind throughout the colder times of the year? Because every year winter happens. If you're in denial and you say, "yes it does help when I complain", have you ever considered that trying to find the beauty, awe and positives in winter might help you MORE? And maybe lift some weight off your shoulders at the same time??
Actively CHOOSE to find things that make you SMILE, POSITIVE and BALANCED in the tough Canadian winters. Do it for your deep health. Do it for your future self in later months and seasons coming up. Some days you'll need to stay inside. Some days you CAN handle a little discomfort to get out of your "funk" and do something positive, even in challenging months. Putting yourself into the practice of finding GOOD moments in challenging months, is going to build your strength and resilience in the NATURAL, down swing of the year.
MAKE the CHOICE that serves you BEST, while remembering that we often can be our own worst enemy. It all starts with our mindset and attitude.
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