Wintering
Welcome to my monthly newsletter, Attunement!
Each month we “tune into” a theme related to mindfulness and
explore a creative practice and tune based on this theme!
This month of February we’re TUNING INTO the frequency of:
WINTERING.
Image by Leon Pachenko
Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.
― Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
The concept of "wintering," as described by Katherine May in her book, refers to embracing difficult seasons of life as a natural and necessary part of growth.
Applying this to the current American political climate, "wintering" can help us approach the turmoil and uncertainty with mindfulness and resilience through:
Acceptance of Cycles: Just as winter is a season, political tensions and upheaval are part of larger societal cycles. Recognizing this can help us avoid despair and focus on the long-term process of renewal and change.
Rest and Reflection: Wintering invites us to slow down, step back, and reflect. Instead of reacting impulsively to political stress, we can mindfully assess our values, educate ourselves, and choose intentional actions aligned with our principles.
Focus on Personal Growth: Difficult political climates often highlight areas for personal and collective growth. Wintering encourages us to embrace this discomfort as an opportunity to strengthen our resilience and clarify what matters most.
Building Community: Winter teaches us to seek warmth and connection. In a polarized world, we can mindfully nurture relationships, engage in meaningful conversations, and create supportive spaces for dialogue and healing.
Patience with Transformation: Just as spring follows winter, meaningful political and social change takes time. Wintering helps us cultivate patience and hope while staying grounded in mindful, purposeful action.
➡️ What does "wintering" mean to you, and how can you personalize the above actions so you can "winter" in ways that feel most relevant and supportive to you, your circumstances, and your community?
Creative Mindfulness Practice: A Mindful Winter's Walk
Getting outside in winter can boost your mood, reduce stress, regulate stress, enhance mindfulness, and support your resilience and physical health.
Prepare Yourself: Dress warmly and comfortably, embracing the season. Bring awareness to how your clothes feel against your skin and the sensation of bundling up.
Begin with Presence: Before starting, take a moment to pause. Breathe deeply, feeling the crisp winter air enter your lungs. Notice the stillness or subtle sounds around you.
Engage Your Senses: Observe the bare branches and frosted ground. Listen to the crunch of snow underfoot and the distant sound of birds. Feel the coolness of the air on your face.
Move Mindfully: Walk slowly and deliberately. Notice each step—how your foot connects with the ground and your body shifts with every stride.
Stay Curious: Let go of judgment or expectation. Be open to the small wonders of winter: a snowflake's pattern, the silhouette of a tree, or the peeks of sunlight behind grey clouds.
Pause for Gratitude: Find a moment to stop. Take a few deep breaths, and reflect on something you appreciate about this season, however small.
End with Reflection: As you finish, notice how your body and mind feel. Carry this mindful connection with you into the rest of your day. Perhaps when you get back inside, make yourself a cup of hot tea, curl up in a blanket, and journal about your winter walk experience.
Image by Georg Eiermann
My February Events:
Live Music, Fri. 2/7, 6:30-9:30pm @ Asterisk Supper Club in uptown Westerville
I'm making my Asterisk debut, and if all goes well they'll ask me back, so come hang out for dinner/drinks, & applaud loudly ;) I'll be playing mostly covers and sneaking in some originals.
Open House, Sat. 2/8 11am-2pm @ The Be Sanctuary, UA
Come check out The Be Sanctuary, a new wellbeing community in Upper Arlington I co-founded with owner Deborah Bosner. FREE! Enjoy refreshments, tour the space, sample services, take home a book from our Little Free Library, and register for a program!
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Feb. 22-March 9 @ Gallery Players
This is a fun, colorful production of Andrew Llyod Webber's classic musical. I'm in the adult ensemble, and my 11-yo daughter is in the youth ensemble.*
(*Also putting in a plug for my 14-yo daughter who's playing Brigitta in "The Sound of Music" at Upper Arlington HS Feb. 13-16; click here for tickets).
SoulCollage® & Art Journaling Open Studio, Tues. 2/25, 6:30-8pm @ The Be Sanctuary, UA
If you’ve taken a SoulCollage® or Gratitude Art Journaling workshop with me, come enjoy an Open Studio to create SoulCollage® cards or journaling pages & connect with kindred spirits.
This Month’s Tune 🎵:
Each month I share a tune that resonates with the newsletter theme.
For this month’s theme of WINTERING, I've chosen my original song "More Than One" from my 2020 album SHINE. Listen on Apple Music and Spotify. '
Here are the lyrics:
MORE THAN ONE
Now, winter comes for everybody / Days are short and the nights are long,
And how you wish you had somebody to keep you warm, sing you a song.
Well, you can go outside your house and knock on someone else’s door.
The company you’ll keep is holy— Together we are so much more.
CHORUSTogether we are so much more than one.
We’re powerful beyond our measure, light just like the sun.
And whenever we come together in the name of love,
We are truly so much more than one.
Now, dark and lonely can our souls get, in our fears of doubt and sin.We’re all mixed up down deep inside us— We’re aching for the light to breathe in.
So share the love that’s all around you, make your heart an open door.
Feel community surround you— Together we are so much more.
CHORUS
Living life for others is living life in love, and loving every minute that share with you.So I am not mistaken when I say that I love you— I’m saying life begins when there are two.
By working hand in hand with others for a cause that’s right and true,
We’re really working for each other, and every day is bright and new.
CHORUSTogether our lives have just begun.
