Comfort in Cold Weather

Autumn is unwelcome weather in my life.  I don’t mean to be a grinch because I realize many people love the cold weather. I’m all for the temperature to cool from 98° to 78º, or maybe even 72º, but once we drop lower than that, introduce a few showers and cool winds….ugh!  I’m such a wimp. And autumn is a sign of the inevitable upcoming winter! I try to be positive about cold but just need a little time to vent. As the cool blows in, clothes become cumbersome and it is nearly impossible for me to stay warm. Sometimes it’s hard to sleep because I’m cold. It’s just a side effect of most high level spinal cord injuries. Often, the brain is not able to correctly interpret thermostat signals from the body.  I think I’m cold even when my temperature is actually fine.

Things I dislike about fall…
– I’m nearly always cold…well I think so anyway and that’s what counts.
– Fall is the beginning of cold, yikes! Winter is coming!
– More layers of clothes makes getting dressed/undressed more difficult and time- consuming.
– Tahoe wants to play outside, but it’s cold so we play less.
– Every year I burn myself trying to stay warm.
– I get obsessive about searching for ‘warm’ solutions. It wastes time.
– I buy more wool socks, shirts and sweaters even though I have enough.
– Wool is expensive.

Enough rant.  I have hope.  My medicine of adding gratitude is in order.

Things I love about fall…
– Our wedding anniversary.
– Trips to the beach…if it’s warm!
– Trips to the mountains.
– Pumpkins.
– Bonfires.
– Tahoe loves cool weather.
– Children love to play in the leaves.
– Snuggling with Brent and Tahoe.
– The air is crisp and clear.
– Trees are extravagantly colorful.
– Stars are bright.
– Wool. The soft kind.
– Two of my nieces birthdays.
– Hot soup.
– Hot water.
– Heat.
– Pedicures are unnecessary.
– Online shopping for wool.
– Did I say I love wool?

 

Today I’m thankful for fall and glad I’m alive to experience another one. It’s therapeutic for me to realize that all the reasons I don’t like cold weather stem from my perceived temperature and comfort. I let cold impact me more than I should. Maybe I’ll find a new way to enjoy the cold weather this year. That’s my resolve.

Are you warm and cozy today?  Got any ‘keep warm’ tricks to share?

6 thoughts on “Comfort in Cold Weather

  1. Hey Madge,
    I too hate it when the cold weather comes.. I have a disease called Raynauds . Cold weather will definitely put me out of sorts. I hate it when I cannot attend football games Plus it ruins my golf game when my fingers are so numb they feel like rocks. Shopping in a grocery store is a challenge even in the summer if the air is too cold!! I feel for you so !!! To help my husband bought me a heater to keep under me during the winter months and my daughter bought me an electric blanket for my bed. I hope some of these ideas help!
    Love to you always,
    Becky

    • Hey Becky! Thanks for the reply and ideas. I had never heard of Raynauds, but just read about it. Wow. You must get cold all year. I know what you mean about A/C in the summer, but I do a bit better with that since my body goes in warm – church can be a challenge…my pastor got me my own space heater! I am not supposed to use an electric blanket b/c I don’t sense when I get too warm, but I use one in the winter, but only for an hour or so. I have little heaters too. I’ve also been using those microwavable neck warmers…Love you and say hi to Glendie.

  2. You would have loved this summer in TX. You could have been outside in the sunshine and stored up enough heat to get you through the winter!

  3. Loved running into you and Brent at REI, buying wool!! Very pretty colors I might add! Menopause is a great heat generator ;-D

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