Morning is a Privilege Even in Winter

 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,

Author, distinguished professor of Psychology and Management, and thought leader, had this to say on “waking up.”

“Wake up in the morning with a specific goal to look forward to. Creative individuals don’t have to be dragged out of bed; they are eager to start the day. This is not because they are cheerful, enthusiastic types. Nor do they necessarily have something exciting to do. But they believe that there is something meaningful to accomplish each day, and they can’t wait to get started on it…everyone can discover at least one thing every day that is worth waking up for. It could be meeting a certain person, shopping for a special item, potting a plant, cleaning the office desk, writing a letter, trying on a new dress.

It is easier if each night before falling asleep, you review the next day and choose a particular task that, compared to the rest of the day, should be relatively interesting and exciting. Then next morning, open your eyes and visualize the chosen event—play it out briefly in your mind, like an inner videotape, until you can hardly wait to get dressed and get going. It does not matter if at first the goals are trivial and not that interesting. The important thing is to take the easy first steps until you master the habit, and then slowly work up to more complex goals. Eventually most of the day should consist of tasks you look forward to, until you feel that getting up in the morning is a privilege, not a chore.”

― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention (1934-2021)

Challenge

This is the third time I have used this quote in the almost seven years of these weekly blogs. The last time was also in December, two years ago.  It occurs to me that when winter shows up, as it did this week, I have to exert extra effort and imagination to avoid going into hibernation mode and wait it out until spring.

It’s not the snow that bothers me so much; instead, the ice is the bane of my winter days. More precisely, falling on the ice is the real problem—my walking days outdoors fade into the background. I now find myself carrying small bags of ice melt in my pocket to sprinkle ahead of my steps, searching for a better pair of “ice grips” to clip onto my boots that will not send me flying when I step inside a building—and fretting about ice build-up on my windshield overnight. Imagining the consequences of a fall and a break take up part of my brain activity each Ottawa winter.

Possibilities

Each year, I try to come up with new walking ideas to give myself something to look forward to. A friend suggested the Aberdeen Pavillion, a beautiful space at Lansdowne Park near where I live, as a possibility. It is ice-free but still chilly, so it feels a bit like you are outdoors, and it is much more attractive than a mall. I will hear back tomorrow if this is a possibility.

Speaking of tomorrow, one idea for a beautiful indoor place to walk is the National Art Gallery (NAG), and I am looking forward to this outing with a friend. It is a gorgeous building with beautiful exhibits, and right now, there is a fascinating textile special exhibit to visit. In addition, a lunch room with a spectacular view and the stunning Rideau Chapel designed in 1887 and rebuilt inside the NAG. It showcases a Forty-Part Motet featuring the Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis. And, of course, the boutique for purchasing gifts and indoor parking if we choose.

All of this ice-free beauty is for $55.00 annually.

This may well become a weekly activity that serves several purposes—it is a lovely place to walk, and the beauty of what is hanging in the galleries is an opportunity to learn and enjoy.

Living in the land of ice and snow isn’t simple for me, but I want to find imaginative ways to move through winter unclenched. I am not trying to appreciate snow and ice or feel grateful. Instead, I don’t want to put my life on hold, and I do want to find a way to be more a part of this season.

This is what we do with all of our challenges. We figure out what we can do something about it and put our efforts into that. Furthurmore, if we can make it more interesting, fun, beautiful, and with good company…it will be a good reason to get out of bed even when it is cold and snowy. Of course, you are “praying” for snow if you are skiers and winter hikers. I fully understand.

I too love the snow when I am tucked into a beautiful cabin, with a fireplace burning, and a stack of good books beside my chair. Now, that’s also a possibility.

Notes

1:) This is the Christmasy corner of my desk. The red candle is for my Mother. The small yellow candle is a notable botanical from Japan. It burns for one hour and leaves no residue. I use those candles when I learn about a person going through a challenging time. Thanks to my son and daughter-in-law for supplying me with the original and keeping me stocked.

The red cutglass holder isn’t really for candles, but I use it for that. It is from Japan – a gift from my friend, Yoshie. Finally, the calendar is from last year, a gift from my granddaughter Sophie. I kept it because I love the monthly trees from the Arboretum.

2:) Thanks to my grandson Rowan, I have a beautiful, efficient new laptop computer and media system. If you were to walk into my study tonight, you would no longer need to pick your way through the tangle of cords. (It’s almost as bad as ice—well, that is an exaggeration, but you get the picture.) Whew! He finished this project up today, and I am ever so grateful!

3:) I’m sending you best wishes and hope you avoid all the respiratory germs and only catch kindness, generosity, and spontaneous laughter. Stay steady, and for those of you going through difficult times, please remember to seek the help you need. This takes courage, and it is a vital skill to learn.

PS I haven’t learned or I have forgotten how to resize a photo to keep everything intact but smaller. Sorry, this one is so big. Tips welcome.