About my age, he has lived in Vermont his entire life.
His parents owned and operated one of the now defunct Vermont dairy farms.
(At one point in time, there were more cows in Vermont than people.)
He was glad January was over. He said.
It was one of the coldest Januarys he could remember.
Whew! I am glad it was not just me, who has lived here for only three years, who shivered my way through the last month with perpetually cold toes and wearing multiple layers.

Here are my takeaways having lived through this last very cold month.

There was seldom a day when, with coat and hat and mittens and Yaktrax on my shoes, it didn’t feel good to be outside. Walking the dirt roads which wind their way through the hills and mountains around our house. Doing my best to pay attention to the trees and fields and the pattern the wind makes on the snow. Or, with skis on, standing for a moment on the top of the mountain stretching my sight towards the mountains beyond. The cold air. My purposeful deep breaths.

And, while I did get outside to ski and to walk and to shovel the snow
The instinct was to hibernate.
I realized it was harder and took more energy to do….
Well…
To do almost anything.
Which goes against my nature.
It was a lesson in patience.
With myself.
With the weather.
With the winter.
And, in allowing what was and is to be.

And finally, the cold of the last month reminded me again of how fortunate I am.
I have a safe home.
And, plenty of food to eat.
The heat comes on.
The comforter keeps me warm at night.
Many do not have as much.
Some live not far from where I live.
They, too, are a part of the community I call home.

And, it has been cold!