Friday, December 19, 2008

A matter of perspective

Seattle is experiencing record cold. For the past week the temp has not climbed over freezing. The other night our thermometer read 19 degrees!

I was in Eugene, Oregon last weekend, which is also experiencing temperatures well below freezing. I always stay at a wonderful bed and breakfast called the Oval Door (www.ovaldoor.com). What a place—the cookie jar is always filled with homemade, freshly baked cookies, and the wine bottles are open and waiting. In the living room, comfy furniture and an inviting gas fireplace. Talk about a home away from home! Best of all, the breakfasts—hearty, homemade food and all the coffee and tea you can drink. Melissa and Nicole, the co-owners (and trained chefs!) are friendly and accommodating. And the interesting people who stay there! But I digress...

Several mornings I shared the breakfast table with a man from Alberta who developed the coolest software for internet car sales. In Alberta the temp recently dropped to a whopping -40 degrees, the temperature at which Celsius and Fahrenheit are the same! Talk about c-c-cold!

For him, 19 degrees is mild. For me, it’s frigid. All a matter of perspective.

Which got me thinking. I can choose to moan and groan about the cold or enjoy the clean, invigorating air. I can play in the snow and appreciate the beauty of snow-covered trees and lawn, or let it ruin my day.

I choose the positive route. What about you?

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and Winter Solstice, and gratitude for everything coming you way,
Ann
www.annroth.net

8 comments:

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EllenToo said...

Since I live in a place that seldom sees freezing or below temperatures and never see snow I can't imagine how I would feel but when we get our winter weather I enjoy the coolness of it.

Sara said...

I love the winter weather - even though it is cold - it is beautiful. Very different from living in Florida for 50 years - New Hampshire is a wonderful change!

Estella said...

I was also in Eugene, OR from Sunday afternoon til Tuesday morning. Crept out of there and down Interstste 5 at 5-10 miles per hour.
I was so thankful to get back to the coast where the temps were in the high 30's.

Anonymous said...

Ellen- You're lucky! On the other hand, I really do love the cold. Mostly. :-)

Sara- I agree, snow and ice are very pretty... but hazardous to drivers. At the moment two tour busses slid down a hill this morning and their front ends are hanging over an overpass above I-5. Everyone was able to get off safely, but the freeway lanes under the busses are closed. Yikes!

Estella- So you understand the hazardous driving conditions. I'm glad you drove safely!

Anonymous said...

Be positive, Ann!! It's (sort of) summer down here in New Zealand and I'd love to experience a white Christmas one of these days. Though it does sound like it can get scary...
Jo.

Anonymous said...

Joey, I'm doing my best to be positive! Enjoy your summer...

Christa said...

I was born in Suth America so this snow stuff and these cold temps were a pain I could live without and still after 33 years I still don't like it but it's part of life. And mostly I don't have to go out in it. Off my balcony there is a park and the snow lots nice there when it first comes down and it's prestine and undisturbed