Since I discovered an alternative way to spend New Year last year, I find it hard to spend it any other way! For a majority of people, getting up before dawn to meditate sounds like tortune esp. over the festive period, but to me, it is so much more appealing than going to over-hyped parties and waking up with hangovers.
After spending months in Asia, it was hard to leave the sun behind. When my initial flight to London was canceled due to the snow, I was tempted to change my schedule but to my surprise, the re-scheduled flight took off despite all the flights before that being canceled!
Most of my friends and family find it hard to understand why I would choose to go on a meditation retreat in the English countryside where temperatures would drop down to sub-zero degrees. As much as I love spring and autumn, I think there is something appealing about winter. Perhaps it is the stillness and sadness that I find intriguing. When I walked across the fields on a cold and misty morning, I felt like I was on the set of a Merchant Ivory film. The air was crisp and I could hear every sound around me, there was something very poetic and magical about the whole setting.
If we learn to appreciate the beauty of each season, then it might give us some insights about our lives... Instead of focusing on the harshness of winter, perhaps it's time to enjoy the serenity that is unqiue to this season.
