It’s That Kind of Winter

We are back to the "Year of Unending Winter" (one of my past titles – twice!). It’s always hard to take these repeat winter tantrums when we get a 50-60 degree day, but it is still March and March is one of those months that can go either way – and usually does go both ways. Teasing us with warm-ups, then slamming us with winter again. Those of us who suffer from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) will find it even harder to push forward. But do so. We know, like everything else in this life, this too shall pass. Spring, then summer will be here, brightening our days, warming our limbs, freeing our roads from dangerous travel.

While our recent winter storm weather was going on this past week, I happened to be in the hospital, and I was touched by the care and the stamina of the medical personnel. Nurses did mandatory stays, the doctors that could make it in came in, despite the roads – even when the ambulances were unable to get through the snow. Others got stuck several times before getting to work. Kitchen staff ran on three phone answering people with over four hundred beds. It was really something to see these people keep pushing forward, staying or going home for a few hours sleep and then coming back to care for the ill. It made me remember the passion we get from our chosen professions. Maybe some of them got the love after deciding it would be a stable job, maybe some always wanted to help people’s bodies heal. Either way, they stayed through the worst, helping with warm smiles and professional attitudes, despite the fatigue they must have been feeling. I was in good hands, and I only hope I can be as kind when I am called to a higher standard.

Let’s take a moment and think of the ways we can press ourselves into persevering in our lives. The snow was a reminder that sometimes we need to hunker down and stay off the roads of life rather than make life harder for our life saving crews (God bless them all!), and at the same time, it reminds us that when we able to step it up for others' sakes that is a good thing. Maybe shovel or snow blow an elderly neighbor's drive or walk, maybe make sure they have heat and food. Maybe all we can do it pray. If we think about it, we can usually come up with something to help. Stay safe out there, if there are anymore storms coming! Today is the first day of Spring, so hopefully we’ve seen the worst of the 2025-2026 winter!