your… SEASON
We are officially headed into Joy’s favorite season, WINTER. The trees have slowly faded from green, and with every walk, there’s a pep in her step. She looks back at me with eyes saying, “Mom can you feel it?” She has made me think about winter in a completely different way. She has shown me that the cold and the snow can truly be fun. SAY WHAT?! That’s something I thought I would NEVER say. I’m a total freeze baby right here, and my favorite season is summer in case you are wondering.
Joy Rose is my fur baby and we’ve been weathering seasons together for 3+ years now. Joy and I often have conversations, and we had one recently. I told her that her favorite season was fast approaching. This got me thinking about the different seasons of our lives and how we choose to manage them.
Four years ago, I faced a challenging season. The holidays were approaching, I was a new dog mom, and my husband was headed out of town for a two-week trip. What scared me the most though, was facing the first cold and brutal winter without the warmth of my mother. She had a way of lifting my spirits, no matter what the weather brought.
To this day I reference many of my mom’s philosophies. She had a way of making you think, learn, and then take action. She taught me how to ask myself those major “life season” questions. How can YOU help yourself feel better?
This question is one I hope you can ask yourself in times of struggle. WHAT CAN YOU CHANGE TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER? Equally important, are you willing to the work required to bring about a positive change.
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My goal was, “I want to enjoy winter”. My choice was to do something about it. That all started with JOY. While that may seem like a pun on words, it’s not. My dog, Miss Joy Rose lead the way, and I chose to follow.
Joy LOVES, and I mean LOVES snow. I swear she is part husky. Back then, I would let her outside and watch from the door at how HAPPY she was. She would roll around non-stop. I would beg her to come in, just so I could shut the door. That never happened easily. She was simply too busy jumping, playing, and pushing the snow all around. Once I finally did get her inside, she was happily covered in snowballs. I had my answer. Winter became fun when I decided to join in the play. Since then, we’ve bundled up and enjoyed many “hiking with dogs” winter adventures. Turns out, winter can be fun and exhilarating when you give it a chance… AND dress appropriately.
When I commit to something, I immediately write it down. I opened my journal and wrote, “I promise to play in the snow with Joy.” As we head into the winter season I want one of you to win this journal for yourself. Writing has been very healing and helpful for me, and I want one of you to experience that same joy. Never apologize for feeling sad, simply do what my mom would do. Ask yourself how you can feel better, then commit to doing it.
Forever and always in honor of my mom, I share her special wisdom for the changing seasons of our lives.
To enter the YOUR SEASON Giveaway, in the comments below share your favorite season (spring, summer, winter or fall). For an extra entry, tell me your least favorite season, and what helps you get through it. Giveaway starts NOW and ends Friday, November 22nd, 2019 at noon EST. Winner will be contacted by email, on Friday, November 22nd, 2019 by EOD.
PHOTOS: TIFFANY JOY PHOTOGRAPHY
My favorite season would have to be the summer. The summer reminds me of Greece and my family. Every year we take a family vacation where there is an ocean and we just stay there for hours. Playing in the sand, the water and just taking it all in and be thankful for my family and what we have.
My least favorite is winter. This year I promised the kids that we are going to make winter just as fun as the summers. So, I have planned for us to go skiing/snowboarding, tubing, sledding and of course building snowman’s. Teaching them that we can have fun with any situation just as long as we put our minds into it and being positive!
Love your outfit by the way!!
I am stealing your “write it down” mentality …I think that will help me commit to more of what I say I am gonna do or what I set my mind to. Also, cutest pictures…per usual!
I love that you write down your promises (and many other things). What a great idea.
My favorite season is Spring…everything comes back to life, the trees are happy, the flowers pop up, and the temperatures are just right.
Ooh summertime! The warmth, the days & nights outside. Everything feels better. Great, big doses of Vitamin A! Least would have to be Winter. While also a bit of a freeze babe & simply detesting the feeling of being uncomfortable… I get through it. Christmas is the bright spot. Times spent celebrating the birth of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ and what He has done in my life. That special time with family & friends & gift giving warms by heart. PS great hiking pics, doll face! XO
My favorite season is fall before it gets too cold. The changing of the leaves colors are beautiful to see and bring a sense of calm to my life. Also, my husband and I married in the fall so it brings warm fuzzies in my stomach knowing we are cloae to celebrating our years of marriage. I also love fall because it is perfect running weather and plenty of 5ks to do!
My least favorite season is winter. Although there is a lot you can do in the winter, I am not good at handling the cold. I probably shouldnt live in a northeastern state then. Haha. The burning of the lungs breathing in the cold air and my toes or finger tips being frozen is very uncomfortable.
This was a beautiful post and very thoughtful in the sense that it got me thinking. I don’t mind winter but I’m like you were. I didn’t like going outside and freezing my booty off lol. But my daughter loves playing outside and I would usually watch her and her daddy outside from the window and join a little bit until I was just too cold. I’m going to vow to try and get outside this winter more with my little girl. Last winter I didn’t get to at all because of how very pregnant I was. This year I’ll have “an excuse” that the baby will need me but I’m going to not use that excuse and if she wants ME to play with her outside then I will and have the hubby watch our baby boy so I can play in the snow too.
Fall is my favorite season hands Down. I hate the summer but air conditioning helps me get through it.
Spring is my favorite season! I love everything blooming, I love getting out of the house and opening the windows, and I love that summer is next!!! As you know, I despise winter. Everything about the cold and what it does to my body….. BUT seeing Joy in it does get me to smile!
Your mom was always looking at things from a different perspective, dissecting it, and if she didn’t like or agree, found a way to go about it differently! She was a “one of a kind” personality for sure and looked for pleasure and ways to laugh!
Summer is my favorite season !!! Something about sunshine on my skin and the ability to just go outside and wander around ! I dislike winter . Cold, dark and blah. I manage to get through it by remembering how blessed I am. On my gratitude list I always remember to include how even though it’s cold I have a warm home . Love you and love your posts
Fall is my fav! I could do without summer.
Summer is by far my favorite. I find myself motivated each day and consistently have a sense of accomplishment from the day before. The sun is my free therapy (with SPF of course!)
Not sure I have a least favorite except the winters are brutally long here in Ohio. I’ve learned over the last few years to embrace the seasons like you. As one can’t avoid them if you reside in CLE and there’s zero sense in being a downer about it!
I’m with you…..get outside and play!!
Thanks for always bringing a smile and something worthwhile to talk/think about. Pictures are adorable too!
My FAVORITE season is Fall! Crisp air, , colorful leaves, and lots of layers! It’s truly Ohio’s time to shine. Unfortunately, it’s always too short.
My least favorite season is summer! I know it’s not a popular opinion! But I have extremely sensitive skin and I spend the summer months hiding under hats & sunscreen!
Hiii!!! I want that bag so bad!!!! Thanks for posting where everything is from! Makes it easy to replicate!!! See you soon!!!! Xoxoxo
Oh and WINTER IS THE BEST! I love being cold, skiing and traveling out west has the best memories! I don’t have a least, I love sunny days and gloomy days, I love warm days and cold days, I love rainy days and dry days!!! Love you!
I love all the seasons! I guess it is something that’s been with me all my life. From one of my first jobs leading horseback trail rides to ride operator at Geuaga Lake to now dealing with pets. Outside, outdoors is were it is at! And those bitter cold days, wet rainy days…just thinking about getting home and warming up next to a fireplace, a warm mug of coffee/tea, and a cat in my lap. Sometimes those cold seasons help us appreciate the warmth of new seasons and days. Yes enjoy the winter weather, but also appreciate it is a time for many things to cocoon and dive deep into transformation.
Great thoughtful blog!
Hands down my favorite season is Fall! There is something about the leaves changing colors, football season and that perfect crispness in the air. I love that it means the start of boots and sweater season. I am a little partial because I am an October baby, but I also got married and had my daughter in October. Fall holds a special place in my heart.
I think my least favorite would have to be Winter. The snow is beautiful, especially when it glistens in the sun. However, all of that gets lost on me when it is so bitterly cold and gray for months on end. I know we should be grateful for living in a place that gets all seasons (most of the time) but winter is by far my least favorite.
My favorite season is honestly Summer! It is the one with the least painful memories. We lost my nephew to stage 4 Neuroblastoma three years ago. He was very close to my children. So, the holidays are the hardest for our family. The fall and winter season seem to bring out the hardest time! However, the spring and summer truly make us thankful for the new JOY and new LIFE! We are thankful for those seasons!! I love this post and all you do! You inspire me to post more on my blog! I need to get moving!
I’m the same! I live for summer! I feel alive and my body can relax then. Like I feel my best self when the sun is shining and I’m sweating and working in the garden. I don’t even mind heat or humidity. Bring it on! my least favorite season is always winter. January is always the hardest month. I always hit a pretty low point emotionally in January and it’s when my grandpa died so I’ve always clung to that loss. The only way I’ve learned to get excited during the winter months is is to have things planned and on my calendar. Then I have something to look forward to. Even silly things like when the new season of the bachelor starts! and I especially look forward to trips. Maybe now I will learn to love winter with the help of Ponyboy, just like how joy helped you! love this post and love the outfits and bag!
Spring is my favorite season. I love the feel of the earth awakening after a long, gray winter’s nap. Spring is filled with the promise of new life as trees bud, flowers push through the soil, and red winged blackbirds sing and call to each other. AND, when else can we can take off our coats when it’s 50 degrees, and it actually feels balmy! 🙂
Poor winter is my least favorite season. It’s just messy, and cold and all those layers of clothing equate to more laundry! On the bright side, a fresh snow fall can turn it all into a winter wonderland, at least for a bit.
My camera, on the other hand, likes all the seasons…:)
I’ve been trying to post something all week but kept getting interrupted… Sooo anytime I can be outside and not be freezing cold I’m a happy girl but I would have to say that summer is my favorite because I love to be barefoot, feel the warm sun and sit in my backyard/be in nature. I do love spring because everything is alive again and in bloom and I do love fall because of all the beautiful leaves But summer is still the best. Winter is what I don’t look forward to but, like you, I’ve learned to embrace it through Oakley. Having a husky means you need to get out when it’s cold and have fun. So we take walks at the Metroparks and play in my yard.
PS my mom has also always encouraged me to make changes to make myself feel better ❤️