Many cultures find winter to be a restful and exciting time of year. Snow becomes a beautiful occurrence when you approach it with the right mindset. But some cultures encourage an attitude of despair and grumpiness in the winter, making summer the star of the year, and forcing winter into a narrow box of grouchy grumbling. This book will give you practical tips for enjoying winter no matter how bleak it may first appear.

When I used to work an office job, I would go to work in the dark and leave in the dark and never see the sun in my little indoor office. I had the winter doldrums for sure. But now that I am master of my own work schedule, and I can go outdoors in the winter when the sun is shining, I find that I enjoy winter so much more! Even when days are dark or cloudy, my mindset is completely different. I find the darkness restful, and I don't push myself to be so active in the winter. I embrace the cold and make it into something cozy. Instead of focusing on the cold, I focus on the crisp clean feeling in the air, and I appreciate the warmth of fuzzy socks and a hot cup of tea even more.

No matter what your schedule may be, or how little sunlight your area receives in the winter, you can find gratitude and appreciation for all the delightful things that winter brings. I love that this book gives real practical ways to enjoy winter. Get outside. Dress warmly. Sleep more. Enjoy warm foods. Embrace candlelight and low lamps. Celebrate holidays all winter long, not just at Christmas. Make time for calm activities. Notice nature.

My favorite part of this book was the chapter that talked about rest. I realized that I don't let myself rest enough, especially in the winter. I always thought of sleep as sort of a waste of time when I could be doing productive things, but those productive things are not going to happen if you don't have a healthy foundation of rest. Mental rest, physical rest, spiritual rest; all these can be cultivated in winter more than any other season.

I used to think I had Seasonal Affective Disorder, because I would be so worn down and depressed in the winter. After reading this book, I'm convinced that (for most people) Seasonal Affective Disorder is a myth. Only the most extreme cases might actually be medically diagnosed with SAD. But for the rest of us, we just have a culture of griping and grouching in the winter. For myself, I want to cultivate an attitude of rest, gratitude, and delight in the winter.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.