How do you feel about Winter?

I dislike winter I dread end of September arriving because it’s all down hill from there. Clocks change cold weather comfort food, what is there to like it’s 5 months of misery. As you can tell I’m a sun lover.

I m glad I m not the only one to not have this kind of old fashioned view of cosy fires and cuddling husband with the hot roasted chestnuts and the grandkids running in with red cheeks and beaming smiles ....for many many people it is miserable, grey, dark, damp, lonely and long
Roll on Spring and summer when at least you can get out and about see and talk to people, when you don’t have to put piles of clothes on and find toes and fingers cold to the bone
There are many homeless, and many who can’t afford heating, probable as many as there are in the comfortable warmth
If the winter was just two or three months it would be bearable but it usually goes on for half the year or even more

Detest winter, wouldn't be so bad but it seems to take up more months than other seasons. I am trying very hard to appreciate autumn in its own right rather than seeing it as being a short prelude to winter. Although the occasional bright crisp day in winter is welcome, they are so few, and most winter days are just dull, damp, grey and boring and we now don't have the usual bits of light relief this year because of covid (firework displays, Christmas concerts, relaxed Christmas browsing in shops, family events, etc). And don't get me started on what a long pointless time of year January is! My favourite month and time of year is May and Spring, with all the promise of what is to come, though I am so afraid that next spring will be tainted as this year's spring was by covid.

Gray dark days - I hate the lack of light - being cold / tense muscles - curtains closed - endless night times

I love spring, summer but not too hot, autumn beautiful, often with the last of the warmth of summer and winter, not so keen on dark nights and wet weather but lovely to come home to a warm house, snuggle up with someone you love, cosy bed, winter casseroles ......I guess there are things to love
about all seasons . I appreciate how luck we are to enjoy all these things, lots of people aren’t especially at the moment.

Being a sun lover I do not like winter much. I do like snow but other than that I can do without the cold weather.

Just when I get fed up with winter ,spring arrives!

I really dislike with a passion the coming months. It affects my mental health more than usual, especially at the moment because of the virus l'm not very good anyway. Christmas day is the anniversary of my dad's death although it's 30 odd years ago now. Roll on spring.

I love Autumn the best but I enjoy winter too. Big cosy jumpers, boots on, candles, lamps and Coorying down if the weather is bad. Always out during the day for a good walk and just accepting that it is another season to enjoy.

I'm up here in the western isles. looking at the deciduous trees in our local forest grounds, I can see the passing of summer and beginnings of the winter bareness. We still have the best of Autumn to come though and with a bit of sunshine this can be a beautiful season. Looking forward to seeing kids celebrating hallowe'en and bonfire night in the best way possible in the present situation.

One concern I have is unorganised events especially re bonfires and fireworks.

We have very dark mornings up here and it is too easy to snuggle under duvet if you don't need to go out!

We must keep positive and be caring towards one another

I usually found something to be said for all the seasons, but spring was always my favourite. I looked forward to winter in retirement, when we could stay warm and lazy indoors or go out and about on nice dry sunny days, with a wee trip to the sun over Christmas. Sadly, my illness, the Bodach’s illness then death, and now Covid, means my ‘best laid plans’ did indeed ‘gang agley’.
I’m just going to enjoy a ‘scaled down’ winter, with more of the warm and lazy indoor days.

I prefer the other three seasons but there are things about winter to enjoy. Personally - they are being able to wear long jumpers that disguise my spare tyre, hiding the podgy shape underneath a winter coat, coming in from a cold walk to enjoy the fire and a hot drink, roast chestnuts, mince pies and stollen ( podgy shape gets podgier ) , snow if I'm inside - these days I worry about slipping over and hurting myself, seeing children enjoy the snow, marvelling at snow crystals, snowdrops and hellebores, red berried holly. This is beginning to sound like a song from a certain musical so I will stop now.

Having spent the first ten years of my life in Southern California, I always felt something was missing in terms of the weather. It was just the same all year around. Then we moved to Iowa where there were all four seasons and I fell in love with each one! Now I must admit to not loving winter in England, but as others have said, getting more light (i.e. stronger bulbs) helps me get through the dark days. It is just worth it to me to more fully enjoy the other three delightful seasons.

Same here fevertree.
But i also love to see lights on in houses and dark mornings and early dark nights.

When I'm indoors and don't have to go out (except in the garden to feed the birds and foxes) I like that winter is a part of seasonal change. When we eventually get our wood-burning stove I will like snuggling up in front of it with a good book. Seeing kids have snowball fights or building snowman, animals experiencing snow for the first time etc make me smile. I've been known to 'hibernate' for months...I rarely leave the house anyway, but in winter I prefer to stay home. I use candles for softer lighting - have candle-lit hot baths. I plan to try my hand at some crafts, learning new skills; having a greenhouse to grow things all year round will also keep me busy from now on. I try to be positive, to do as much as I can. I write letters, do those organising-type jobs indoors that I put off in summer/autumn. Cook stews/casseroles/soups, as they are the sort of foods that seem to warm from the inside.

That said, I suffer badly in the cold weather. My mood does seem to be affected and depression is worse. I feel bad for wild animals as it is such a tough time of year for many, struggling to survive. In my own small way I try to make more efforts to give our garden wildlife more food. I go out to supply fresh water daily and my better half thinks I'm a bit crazy as on freezing days I will break ice on the water bowls or empty them and refill with fresh - we used to have a blackbird pair that loved bathing (the female would often have a few baths daily) so one year I even put bowls of lukewarm water out for them thinking it might be nicer than freezing cold baths - she would wash and bob around in the water like she did in summer!

The dreary drizzly grey UK weather isn't quite the same as that for Norwegians, Alaskans etc who live within the Arctic Circle. I think people there are more in tune with nature in all her seasons. They accept life in winter is different to that in summer. Different attitudes, activities, projects get them through those dark days.

I just love spring and summer. Warmer days and longer nights. Flip flops and no coats. Salads and more salads, Windows open and no heating on.

I’m not a fan of miserable, grey, damp and cold weather. My feet don’t like it and end up feeling like ice blocks. I’m going back to hiking boots and thick woolly socks for warm, dry feet.

I love the crisp, cold and frosty days although they are few and far between. I watch for the buds breaking in late winter and still love breaking icy puddles.

I love winter but a cold, DRY one. Snow is pretty but I've been afraid of slipping and falling in it for 65 years now so I don't see that changing.

I love being to draw my heavy duty Sanderson curtains (a tenner on eBay years ago and I love them, Rose and Peony pattern) against the dark, and I feel cozy.
Winter is time for a long, luxuriating sigh of "Made it!". I'm not sure what I mean by that but that's how it feels.
Bring it on!!?

Unfortunately, the seasons don't always live up to our expectations. I wouldn't mind winter, if summer 'made up for it', but in NE Scotland there sometimes isn't such a great difference between a summer and winter day. It can be a case of ' all the seasons in one day '. Most days, the temperature here, according to the weather map, is the lowest in the country, summer and winter.

Lovely post Lauranorder

When the rain is lashing down and it's blowing a huley, I love being inside warm and cosy. Also snow and frosty mornings. And fallen leaves to jump in with the GC.

I just love the winter also , the dark mornings and evenings, relaxing in front of log fire , soft lights , candle burning , glass of wine . Love the teddy bear duvets and cosy throws , warm coats , hats , scarves and boots . Walking the dog on cold crisp days , enjoying the weather , the wind, rain , frost and snow. Just wrap up warm , it’s so fresh and exhilarating. Much better than sweating in the summer heat .

I have just started reading a book called The Cosy Life. It is about Hygge It has its origins in Norway and Denmark. It is about feeling warm comfortable and safe. It is how I plan on being this Winter.

Glorybee - I'm with you

Well done for conquering the fear of flying! I have permanent money problems and used to worry all the time about the future. Like you, I turned this around by realising the thing I feared was the possibly dreadful future I was imagining rather than the wonderful and happy present. I was more afraid of a self made projection than the happy reality of my life.
PS Winter is wonderful!