TAKE THAT, JANUARY!

Every year I try new methods of how to fight back against January's rigid winter tough guy arms. I'm not usually all that successful and February finds me hiding under the bed, refusing to come out and play. So I thought I'd make a list of my favourite come-backs to cold wind and ice and snow. We all like lists, right? I thought so.

1. Watch Ellen. I just smile when I watch Ellen. It's automatic, a reflex, uncontrollable. I laugh out loud some times but most of the time I just smile and feel all hopeful inside. Corny? Notta. She is genuinely a share-the-joy person. I always feel better after an hour or any part thereof, of Ellen.

2. Watch Roger Federer play tennis. He is magic on two legs. He is strong and dignified and such a good sport. He was all angles and skinny just seven years ago and now he is ... well, just watch him play and you'll know what I mean.

3. Eat chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with reckless abandon. Let your conscience go on holidays.

4. Email an old friend from high school or a long lost cousin and tell her your favourite memories of her.

5. Carry your camera around and look for the beauty of winter. Good luck.

6. Don't watch the news. Know that there are good things going on out there that the media just can't be bothered taking time to shine the light on because it seems that they have much more fun noticing the ugliness of the world.

7. Smile at the old lady trying to find a parking place even though she is driving like a snail. Give her space to take her time and applaud her for still trying. It helps. Trust me.

8. Stop hurrying. When you feel yourself start to rush, just breathe in and out a few times and slow down. I think it is called living in the moment.

9. Giggle. Anytime you get the chance. When your teen-ager's bedroom door is left open and you fear the Ministry of Health is going to board it up and put a surgeon-general's warning on the door, just giggle. When you find more toothpaste on the sink than in the tube just giggle.

10. Look for the good stuff around you. The bad stuff is noisier and more obvious and waves its arms with greater energy at times, but look behind things, around and under. It's there. I promise.

written by W A Stewart, January 27, 2010