Winter used to look so drab to me...now it looks like a meditation, a pause, a gap in the activity, a breath.

There are parts of winter I am going to miss. We have had a really fun polocrosse season and watching the big smiles on the girl’s faces as they ride their horses has been a pleasure. I am going to miss the wood fire. It has been a muddy, wet winter and the fire in the house has been burning non-stop. Our back door has a constant trail of muddy boots and damp coats but no one is complaining, the whole district is covered in green crops and ample stock feed. I am going to miss how good a mug of hot chocolate feels in my hands on a frosty morning. I am going to miss scarves, wooly jumpers and winter walks.

I have been asking a few locals how they have found winter this year. Was it milder than normal or was it my intention to not complain and enjoy this cold season, that made all the difference for me? What I do know to be true is that perspective is everything. What we think about our life becomes our reality. If I think something is going to be hard, it always is. If I play out a situation coming up and imagine it to be difficult or disappointing, guess what?

The trick is to get ahead of your self and set an intention to make the most of each situation. We can bring a softness to a relationship, a little more compassion and determination to see the best in others. We can also play out a situation before it happens, imagine it being different and guess what happens!

Winter used to look so drab to me..now it looks like meditation, a pause, a gap in the activity, a breath. I am watching the bare branches with great interest. I want to catch the moment the fresh leaf pushes towards the sun. But this year there is no anticipation for this to rush or to happen when I want it to. Nature has a rhythm, a magic, a timing of its own and it is the greatest teacher of all. It is resilient, defiant, soft and yet deeply courageous and strong. Nature knows how to pause, to rest and renew itself. The farm is teaching me this!

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Narelle Hunter RURAL LIFESTYLE

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