Growing up I viewed winter as long dark days filled with harsh freezing air. I thought the snow was pretty but only from the comfort of a warm cozy blanket. When I moved back to Colorado with my new sense of wonder I challenged myself to see winter with new eyes… eyes seeking wonder, wisdom, and the hidden treasures of creation.
As I explored my budget friendly options, I got invited to go snowshoeing to Glacier Gorge up in Rocky Mountain National Park. To be honest I was nervous to go. The thought of hiking miles into the unknown in the dead of winter without service, maps or common wilderness knowledge seemed risky. What if I wandered off course or a storm came in or something simple like having to go to the bathroom? It’s cold! Not to mention sasquatch could be lurking behind any of the evergreens… who am I to say he couldn’t be out there. Regardless of my fears I went and it revealed a wonderland beyond what I had imagined.
As I walked through through the trees on feet of snow there was a patience and peace emitting from my surroundings beyond what I had expected. It gave me that same sense of wonder that I would get as I held my breath and sat on the ocean floor 20 ft down. A feeling of being in awe, humbled by creation and the creator, and thankful to live in a world that contained such beauty. In the stillness I felt alive and was able to think clearly.
Nature has perfected the harshness of winter and given us a new way to look at difficult, or dark seasons, if we so choose to. It beautifully reflects the patience, meaning, and importance of winter seasons. In winter, nature waits out the brutally cold and stormy season by growing roots, embracing the sunny days and storms as they come, and trusting that spring is just around the corner. In our lives, we can choose to see struggles as seasons that will end. We have the power to grow roots into what we know is true, extract the lessons to be learned, and trust that the season will be used to produce new fruit in our lives. How would our lives be different if we viewed struggles like this versus allowing difficulties to be a burden and weigh us down? What energy can we put into the growth process instead of feeding into the victim mentality? Something to think about.
As far as adventures go, I highly recommend Glacier Gorge, Lookout Mountain Trail, and Herman Gulch Trail, all in the beautiful state of Colorado. Glacier Gorge and Herman Gulch Trail are both about 6 miles roundtrip and take you on a true, out of this world adventure. Lookout Mountain Trail is an easy two mile roundtrip trail that is quick and easy for a wonder refresher.
Till next time, wonder on.
xoxo,
Kate
Wine&Wonder 