Finding a Rhythm in Every Season

Clockwise left to right- Winter on the water, spring blooms, fall leaves, flowers in summer

Today’s post is a collaboration by Kary Gillenwaters, Marcie Israelson, and Kim Frederickson

This week, the team working on To a life well occupied posts engaged in a conversation about the seasons. Since it is August in Minnesota, many people can be found enjoying the last full month of summer outdoors-- this might be on one of the many bike and walking paths (Minnesota has over 4,000 miles of paved paths!), near, on, or in one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes (11,842 to be exact), or enjoying nature in other various forms. It is indeed a month where people tend to refuel, soak up the sun before the days continue to get shorter and are occupied in different ways.

Whenever we northerners have traveled to other parts of the country, we are often asked-- “How can you live there-- it’s so cold!” If you’ve ever spent time in a northern climate, you’ll find that mostly we adapt our activities and find joy in each season. We don’t just put up with it-- we embrace the seasons and find their gifts (most of the time-- we are not perfect). There are also people who love the cooler weather so much, they tolerate the heat the way some imagine we tolerate the cold. 

The realization that the four seasons of Minnesota do not exist everywhere led us to wondering how this influences our perception of managing the unexpected. There’s a joke in this region of the country that “if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.” Now it doesn’t usually change that quickly but expecting weather to be a certain way because of a date on the calendar will likely just result in disappointment, so we adjust our expectations and redefine enjoyable occupations. It made us wonder-- what are the gifts in growing up in a climate that is less predictable? How does living in a climate that is always sunny or rarely rains or snows shape the people who live there?

Winter

In Minnesota, winter can begin in October and end in April. This is not usually the case but there is a possibility winter weather could be anywhere from 2-7 (or 3-9, depending on how you define winter weather) months. It may be sub-zero temps, it may be over 3 feet of snow, or it could be brown grass and cool weather. This variation has taught us to prepare for all of it, and accept it as it comes.

It also means we can have winter ice carnivals, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, ice fishing, sledding and more. For those who love winter-- nothing beats colder temps and snow inviting you to slow down with nature.

Spring and Fall 

Spring and fall seem to be the shortest lived seasons of them all as winter weather often holds on through March or has us guessing, “Which season is it” all month long.  Many of us await spring with childlike anticipation and if you’re not from around here, the surest way to know spring is near is to drive through a neighborhood on a warmish (38 degree Fahrenheit or higher) day and look for what seems to be every person outdoors. We look a little bit like hibernating animals venturing out for the first time in a long while. 

Fall is the one season I refuse to allow a calendar to dictate as the fall leaves change every year at a different time, and for varied durations-- one windy day comes along and you’ll miss your chance to see the full beauty of the changing of the trees. Though it technically lasts 3 months-- fall often feels more like a couple weeks at best, if the leaves are what you love about the season. 

Summers

Minnesota summers are what many live for the rest of the year and the thing many other Minnesotans tolerate to get a longer fall and winter. It can begin feeling like summer days by mid to late May and usually lasts until mid to late September. Outdoor activities abound on water and land alike. 

This team loves the water, so summer is always popular. Though each season holds its unique gifts which we would not trade. Fall provides relief from the hot summer sun and a chance to slow down and enjoy the gifts from summer’s growing season. Winter invites slower days if you choose to dance according to its rhythm. I also think of winter as a time of cleansing. The snow washes over everything like a blank canvas. The blankets of white snow come and go and delight us in their beauty. And just as we long for the green of new life, spring appears and the cycle begins again. 

How do the seasons affect your daily rhythm?

Which brings us back to our initial question-- how does the weather around you and the seasons influence your daily habits and routines? What rituals do you have that are influenced by the season? 

If you live in a climate that doesn’t have four seasons in the way we do in Minnesota-- how does that influence you? Does the rhythm of your day slow down throughout the year? 

We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your comments or photos of your favorite occupations (things you want or need to do) by season with us!