Winter lends itself, more than any other time of year I think, to the welcome sort of solitude and melancholy that fills me up with meditative calm. It can feel bleak and beautiful at the same time, as long as I’m not in a particularly dark place emotionally. The kind of cold and emptiness that sear the lungs and sting the eyes can sometimes set the soul on fire with inspiration and, concomitantly, a sort of scraped-clean elation.
Art-Colored Glasses
Original poetry, essays, artworks, photographs & musings on whatever moves me…
Art-Colored Glasses 
You had me thinking with this post. I am usually slower at work, which usually offers me more time for myself. However, the lack of sun, cold and extra hassles of winter are starting to get me down. I really need to move south!
I get the winter blues myself (including a mild version of SAD, at times), but have managed most of the time to channel that into intentional maundering—a good way to find inspiration for darker and drearier topics, if I wish—and then give myself the kick in the pants needed to look in brighter directions and let the bracing change lead me to happier stuff. Not *always* entirely successful, but generally speaking….
xo
Thanks for the advice! I don’t think I allow my dark side to show. I’m afraid it won’t go away.
Part of a Jacques Red poem I love (not my own translation):
In truth winter is the most perfect of seasons
In which each branch fills with precision its form
And is no more than a branch, repeating
Its perfect presence between the sleeping depths
of daylight and the unrumbling torrent of the clouds.
Oops, that should be Jacques Reda.
Very lovely indeed. Thank you for sharing it!
I find winter good for the soul as you tend to slow down a bit 🙂
Yes! Today was exactly that day, for me, and now I feel like after a good night’s sleep tomorrow will be a welcome day of productivity again. After lunch, at least! 😉
xo
The sound of wizened always makes me think of white, and the black and white of your pictures suited your wintry theme.
Thank you! I do think that black and white photos’ bleakness and astringent sobriety lends itself wonderfully to such themes. I’m glad you agreed in this instance. 🙂
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Many thanks for sharing! 🙂
xo