Skip to main content

Winter Blues and the Creative Spirit

This winter really kicked my rear end. I don’t know if it was actually colder, longer, and snowier than usual or if it just felt that way, but either way, I felt drained. A kind of low-grade listlessness settled over me, the kind that makes it hard to muster enthusiasm for much of anything. My creativity? It all but hibernated.

I’ve always been a summer person. I thrive when the sun is shining, when I can get outside and move, when nature feels alive and bursting with possibility. There’s something about stepping into warm air that sparks energy in me, making ideas flow as easily as the breeze through the trees. But winter? Winter is different.

The days are short, the nights are long, and the cold seeps into everything. Even with the glow of holiday lights or the beauty of fresh snow, I find myself counting down to spring. I try to embrace the season—hot tea, cozy blankets, the occasional twinkling snowfall—but the truth is, I have to actively fight my way through these three months of darkness every single year.

Some winters, I get by with walks in the crisp air, bundled up beyond recognition. Other years, I lean on books, letting myself escape into stories while I wait for the world outside to thaw. Sometimes, I even trick myself into feeling inspired—lighting candles, playing music, seeking out small joys like the sound of a crackling fire or the way the cold makes my Papillon dog extra snuggly.

And then, there are winters like this one, where I just… exist. Where my creativity curls up somewhere deep inside me and refuses to come out until it senses the first signs of spring. And I have to remind myself: That’s okay too. Creativity isn’t a machine—it ebbs and flows like the seasons. Some years, winter is a time to dig deep and create. Other years, it’s a time to rest, to recharge, to allow myself to feel the slowness instead of fighting it.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

So tell me—what do you do to get through the long, dark months? Do you embrace winter’s stillness, or do you fight against it? I’d love to hear your favorite ways to cope.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DIY Audiobook. A bit of equipment, good advice and lots of patience

I want to create an Audiobook - should I?  Ever since the release of book one in the "Cannabis Preacher" series of thrillers, that question has been on my mind.  The "Cannabis Preacher" books were quite long. To produce an audiobook from each of the four, including voice actors and audio production with a turn key service, I was looking at around $15,000 per book. Financially, that was a non-starter for me at the time. That amount represented a LOT of books and audiobooks to sell to recover the investment, and I shelved my plan again.  With the popularity of the "Magical Papillon" cozy mystery series, I found myself coming back to the growing popularity of audiobooks. I knew that audiobooks could reach a wider audience and catered to busy readers who prefer listening while multitasking. The idea of bringing my characters to life through narration excited me, as it offered a new dimension to my storytelling.  The cozy mysteries were only 60-65,000...

🎄 A Magical Christmas Message from the Enchanted World of Rosewood Hollow

  🎄 A Magical Christmas Message from the Enchanted World of Rosewood Hollow   There's nothing quite like Christmas in Rosewood Hollow, where magic sparkles in every snowflake and mysteries hide behind frost-covered windowpanes. Today, we have a special treat - our favorite magical Papillon, Pixie, has taken over the blog to share some holiday cheer!   Oh goodness, is this what Mom calls a "blog post"? tail wags excitedly Hello, dear friends! Pixie here, bringing you some magical Christmas wishes straight from our cozy Victorian home in Rosewood Hollow. What an amazing journey we've shared together this year! From solving that very first mystery in our whispering attic, to unraveling the secrets of the sparkling sapphire necklace, uncovering the truth behind that spicy pinch of peril, and now embarking on our most magical adventure yet aboard the Rosewood Holiday Express - your support has meant the world to us! You know what makes my tail wag the most...

Embracing the New Year with Creativity: Setting Goals for Growth and Expression

As the calendar turns to a new year, it's a natural time for reflection and renewal. The slate is clean, the opportunities are fresh, and there’s a collective energy that encourages us to dream big, try new things, and set goals that push us toward our best selves. If you're like many people, you might have a resolution or two in mind—whether it's to exercise more, eat healthier, or learn a new skill. But if you're a creative soul, there's another resolution that deserves your attention: setting intentional creativity goals for the new year. Creativity isn’t just reserved for artists or musicians; it's an essential part of every profession and every life. Whether you're a writer, an entrepreneur, a teacher, or simply someone who enjoys expressing themselves in new ways, creativity can unlock new opportunities and lead to personal growth. So, why not make this the year that you intentionally nurture your creative side? Let’s dive into how you can set creativ...