Springing Into a New Attitude

There are ten birds in the tree just outside my window eating red berries in the sunshine.  It's sort of a tease since they make me think of Spring and it's only March 6th.  Last year on my birthday in April we had a party and it was nice enough for people to sit outside on the deck.  The year before that it was snowing and I was looking up houses for sale in Arizona.  This is the time of year that all of us Minnesotans start wearing sweatshirts when it's above 25 degrees, we start driving with our windows down, and I saw one guy yesterday outside of Target in sandals.  I don't know if snow is still in the forcast, but I heard we were going to get another foot of snow! 

I've lived in Minnesota my whole life, but I learned a good lesson this year.  Not everyone gets depressed during record snow falls.  There are some people who even get excited; the snowmobilers, skiers, snowboarders, and snow shoers to name a few.  One of those skiers/snow shoers was in a Bible study group of mine this year along with two poor California girls.  I know it seems obvious, but I didn't see it until the two extremes were right in front of me.  I could either whine and complain about all the snow shoveling or I could embrace the weather, take up some winter sports and actually enjoy the cabin fever days of winter.  Now I haven't actually done anything about that little epiphany.  I still don't own any skis or snow shoes or even better, a snowmobile, but I have adopted a different attitude.  If I'm going to live in Minnesota I might as well enjoy myself all year round!  So, as the snow starts to melt and people are beginning to think about Spring, I'm going to start looking for a good deal on some winter sports equipment so I'm ready for next year.  Maybe I'll have a different response when we get another record snowfall.