Around this time of year, it’s not hard to feel like the winter has dragged on long enough. And, while it’s true that this has been a particularly cold, tough winter season in many respects, we still have a bit of winter yet ahead – and we have a choice. We can either hunker down, stay indoors and grimace as winter passes us by – or we can embrace the winter and all the joy it has to offer. Some final days of skiing, ice fishing, cross-country treks, heading out on the snowmobile trails and more. And while so doing, using these activities as fun occasions to spend with family and friends, making memories to last a lifetime.
This weekend in my hometown of Newport, we will be marking the 106th consecutive Newport Winter Carnival, the longest running winter festival in the United States. Even when threatened by COVID, some extraordinary members of the Newport community made sure the title was maintained. It’s an incredibly festive occasion, one that celebrates community and, though it may sound strange to some, the joys of winter. Newport isn’t the only place that celebrates during this time, with some larger cities like Quebec City and Rio de Janeiro also being known for their winter carnivals as well.
After the excitement of the holiday season in December, sometimes the rest of winter can feel like it drags on. But Carnival as it’s colloquially known, is traditionally the celebration of the beginning of Lent, and the eventual ushering in of Spring. It marks a moment of transition. While we may make our resolutions at the beginning of the year, this period is where we act on our intentions. It’s where we set ourselves on a trajectory to accomplish our goals for the year. It’s where we double down and commit to trying our hand at that new thing, we set out to try at the start of the year or prepare for what the rest of the year has to bring. In short, it's a moment for action.
Those of you who are avid gardeners know that the flowers which bloom in the spring are actually planted in the fall. They not only endure the entirety of a harsh, cold winter, it turns out they actually need it. It gives them the nutrients, and time, necessary to eventually blossom in the spring. It’s a metaphor, and lesson, that many of us can use as we look to the months ahead (especially those of us who may not like the cold or are ready for the warm spring months). As we go into this weekend which heralds the coming of spring, celebrate this opportunity to put intentions into action, and set your own path, on your terms.
