Things of Beauty #17
An invitation to Winter Camp, plus squirrels, birds, and music in your ears
This could be called the Deep Midwinter edition of Things of Beauty. We’re having a pretty mild winter here in Virginia (despite my first picture below), but I know that’s not the case everywhere. And even if the temperatures are warm or warm-ish where you are, the days are still pretty short and that early darkness can sometimes fall hard. Sharing some of what’s brightening my days in little ways, this week. Including an opportunity to find community on these midwinter days.
*And if it’s not winter where you are, well— I mean squirrels, birds and community are always good things (not necessarily in that order).
Just a few lovely winter brightening things:
❄️ It snowed a little bit here recently! Lovely to watch while sipping coffee and then it all melted away without leaving behind any depressing gray snow piles. Pretty perfect, as snow goes.
🏕 While we’re on the subject of snow and winter in general, my friend
who writes has created something really special to help combat the winter blues AND she’s offering a discount for us here at the Healthier Hustle. Here’s all the info:Winter Camp is an online gathering to help transform this cold, dark season to a time of joy. Winter Camp will run four weeks, from Feb. 25 to March 25, and focus on six themes that experts say can help boost our happiness and well-being during the winter: connection, light, outdoors, movement, creativity, and nourishment. Each day, you'll get a reflective prompt in your inbox. You'll also be invited to a private online community where you get meet fellow Winter Campers, share your answers to today's prompt, and connect. On Saturdays (11 a.m. to noon ET) there will be live virtual sessions around movement and creativity. Interested?
Use the code HEALTHIERHUSTLE for $60 off. And sign up by Feb. 22 to get a cool Winter Camp mug with your name on it (see below).
Even more details here. Imagine sipping tea, or coffee, or hot cocoa from your Winter Camp mug while nurturing all the things proven to make the season a little easier!
🐦 I know we’re a little past the season for year end round up lists— but these Best Bird Photos of 2022 seem pretty timeless. Take a little break today with some virtual bird watching.
🐿 In squirrel news- Derrick Downey Jr.’s Instagram account is a delight that will brighten up ANY day, winter or otherwise. His adventures with Maxine the squirrel are *chef’s kiss* Just pure fun! He also has an orange cat named, Mango, as if the squirrels weren’t enough. (Thanks to Kelsey for making sure I knew about this!)
🎧 Also bringing the joy this winter— listening to music while I work out. I rejoined the local YMCA in January and am rediscovering my enjoyment of cardio other than running. The elliptical! The bike! Even the treadmill, feels sort of exciting and new after not using one for nearly three years. I don’t run outside with headphones for safety reasons, so when I first started back at the gym I was particularly excited about getting to listen to podcasts while I worked out. But then one morning, I just couldn’t bring myself to listen to that podcast about burnout I had queued up and decided to listen to some music instead. It was magical. And I’m not going back. This playlist from Self Magazine is great mix for cardio (or just putting a smile on your face).
Do you get snow where you are? Do you love it, or not so much? What’s brightening your winter days? Have you listened to or made any fun playlists? Please do share!
Be well, find tiny joy-
Mary Chris
Thanks for sharing Winter Camp, Mary Chris! 💙