Emanations

Posted by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

https://www.yarnharlot.ca/2026/01/no-winter-lasts-forever/

https://www.yarnharlot.ca/?p=9840

I think by now we’ve all seen a version of that meme, the one where a person says “oh, wow- what a long week it’s been” and someone else says “Sharon, it’s Monday.” That right there, that exact thing is how I feel about the winter right now. Winter has never been my favourite, which is a terribly sad thing for a Canadian but I’ve worked really hard over the years on coming up with some ways to feel better, to like it better – I don’t think I’m ever going to be the sort of person who looks out a window as the first autumn leaves flutter from the trees and joyfully exclaims OH WOW it’s almost winter, but I did think I was getting a grip. I have Winter Systems, I’ve found a winter sport I like – I have become an okayish skiier to be sure and that does make it feel like there’s a reason for winter. I’ve learned that I need to get outside in the winter, to let whatever meagre light there is shine on me, a few years ago I started walking to and from work in the winter, even though I work at home. I get up, have my coffee and then dress and go around the block back to the house and start work. I go the other way when I’m done at my desk and at least that gives me a sense of rhythm and a little bit of outside time. I lean into candles and twinkle lights and try to embrace the idea of a season of rest and renewal, preparing for the hustle of summer. I walk in the snow. I go to the gym and run on treadmills and ride inside bikes and I lift heavy things. I knit heaps. I read a lot, and up until the last few years I write a lot too.

Enter this winter which is slowly kicking my systems into a frozen demoralized heap. Hold on, I’m snow washing some woollies and it’s time to bring it in before it’s dark. (See? It’s not like I don’t try to make the most of it.) Do you know about snow washing? Essentially you just put your woollies in the snow and you can put snow on them or, if you time it right you can just let nature do that part. Leave it there for a little bit, then go back out, rub a little snow around on them, give them a proper shake and bring them inside. They’ll be fresh, clean(er), smell good and you’ll have given at least one day of the (*&^%^Ying winter a reason for existing.

it hasn’t helped that this winter is particularly dark (both metaphorically and meteorologically) So few sunny days, some weird rainy days that are worse than snow, the news is terrible every time I look at it, that miserable rain was mixed in with frigid days that are too cold to do anything really, or days like today that are snowy and paralyzing. It seems to me that this winter I get up and it’s dark, the hours pass gloomily while I turn on lights and make tea and then before you know it the night is coming and though it’s only 4:30 or so it feels like the day is shot. Hibernating has never made more sense but it’s not doing much for my mood.

A few days ago I woke up and it was too dark to do anything (again, here I write both meteorologically and metaphorically) and I finally decided to do something about it. I immediately went for a walk (two, I walked to and from “work”) and have everyday since. I grabbed some delicious knitting I’ve been meaning to get to and keep putting off – The Craghill Shawl, using some (sadly discontinued) Weld from Hudson and West. It is squishy and gorgeous and giving me a lot of happiness right now, the yarn equivalent of eating a bowl of oatmeal and that gold colour is like a ray of sunshine.

We made a ski date (sort of) and though we don’t have a ton of cash, I have not ruled out taking all my aeroplan points and getting the *&^% out of here. (Realistically there’s too much going on here to do that but it is a really great fantasy that is working for me.) I doubled down on planning meals we like, I went for a walk again. I texted a friend. I made my favourite tea – the one I’ve been hoarding for … when? Can’t imagine what I was saving it for if it’s not now. I tuned my wheels on St. Distaff’s day (the 7th January) and got something yummy on that too.

I cleaned a drawer. I trashed the book I was reading that I didn’t like. I made sure my daily vitamin has enough D in it. I decided to order some yarn and I ate an orange.

I wrote to you.

In short- I decided that I’m not going to wait for this winter to get brighter, I’m turning the lights on myself. Did I miss anything that might help?

https://www.yarnharlot.ca/2026/01/no-winter-lasts-forever/

https://www.yarnharlot.ca/?p=9840