It's Wintertime!

The cold and chilly days/months are here. It's definitely the season to wear warm but comfortable clothing, jackets and sweaters, and coats, mittens for babies and small children when they're out there with their family members. It's time for that early morning-brewed coffee, hot chocolate drinks, and comfort food and flavored soups during the day and night. Plus, a cup or two of hot tea to complete our mealtime, with a slice of cake or home-made cookies, and/or an apple or an orange or grapes or a banana for dessert. To some, it's family time together, gathering around a fireplace in a family/living room, enjoying food, with friends if they happen to be around visiting us or keeping us company, while listening to music, or watching TV or a favorite movie or video game, or reading a book, etc. It's just a good time to enjoy the comfort of home, especially when the heater is on  for most, if not all, of us who have built in or installed centralized heating unit in our houses. (Our winter electric and heating bills will certainly go up. That's always the case, though.)

For athletes/players, and snow/ice lovers, it's the time for sports/games involving ice and/or snow, such as bandy, bobsledding, broomball, curling, hockey, ice fishing, ice skating, luge, ringette, skeleton, skiing, skwal, slalom, sledding, snowboarding, and toboggan.

Winter, according to my Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, is the cold season between autumn, or Fall, and spring in northern latitudes (in the Northern Hemisphere from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox; in the Southern hemisphere from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox). It covers the months of December, January, and February in the United States, and of November, December, and January in the United Kingdom or Great Britain and European countries.

December 21, this year, was the official first day of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere, summer has just begun and people there experience their longest day around 21st of December.

During winter, we observe that days become shorter. Sunshine is not as warm as in the summer. Wind is, at times, very chilly because in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth's orbit is farther away from the sun than during summer months. Noticeably, most trees around are leafless or like skeletons; their leaves have fallen off, been blown away, scattered everywhere, to the ground. Why? Their leaves are too cold for the trees or shrubs and other plants to keep them. That's why certified gardeners and horticulturists suggest that we bring our potted shrubs or tropical plants inside the house if we want to enjoy them with their foliage and flowers intact.

Early winter, we see snow falling on mountain tops and some highly-elevated portion of those countries in the Northern Hemisphere. And as it gets colder, snow falls and accumulates in the lower places. In the morning, we see mists or snowflakes around, in our backyard, everywhere. Just imagine rows of houses or buildings in their rooftops covered entirely with snow! The whole community blanketed with pure white snow! Such a picture-perfect scenery outside! So cool yet a delightful sight to behold as far as the children and teens are concerned. They absolutely love to play with snow outside during winter.

What about other land animals/creatures that are wild out there? How do they cope up with wintertime? Other animals grow thick furs/coats to keep them warm. Let's find out what they do to survive. Skunks, bears and chipmunks hibernate throughout winter. Yes, they spend the time in close quarters, sleeping, in a dormant condition, such as the bears. This time, their metabolism slows down. That's why they don't have to eat everyday. They live underground for months. Others just come out to eat when the weather gets warmer. During hibernation, there are bears that give birth to their young. Likewise, when temperature drops, cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles, like crocodiles, undergo "torpor" or sluggish inactivity or state of suspended physical powers and activities, much like the bears. This state of hibernation helps the animals to control their body temperature. On the other hand, during winter, birds migrate to the Southern Hemisphere where the weather is warmer. Then they come back to their habitat in springtime.

How and what about us, folks? Adaptability is one of our primal or primeval characteristics as human beings who have existed for ages and eons. We live and have survived with all the various environments and seasons of life. We have clothing for special occasion and specific season, like winter. For summer, we wear light (cotton) outfit, shirts and shorts, sneakers, sandals or flip flop for foot wear. For spring and fall, in which we experience mild weather, we wear casual or formal wear. Of course, we want to feel comfortable. Our body tells us if we feel cold or warm or hot. So we wear something that is not only appealing and appropriate but comfy to our taste. To protect us from (extreme) cold weather conditions, like hypothermia or frostbite, we bundle up, especially when we're outside. Small children are vulnerable to cold weather. That's why we do our best to clothe them appropriately when they're out there in the cold. Yes, we wear anything to keep us warm and comfortable, in or outside of our homes---long-sleeve or two-layer shirts, ponchos or warm blankets, thick or insulated pants, gloves, boots, water-proof shoes, scarves for our neck, caps, other head gears, with mufflers, etc.

Now, smile and cheer up, folks! Well, let's talk about the so-called "winter blues" or that condition or state of being down or depressed or having depressed/melancholic spirits, okay? I remember, three years ago, I came across a newsletter "News You Can Use" by a regional medical center in our state. In it was this article about how to remain healthy this winter. The following are among the ways to maintain health during winter: 1) Sweeten or add a little sweetness to your food. Include sweet potato or yam to your diet. With 40 grams of fiber, sweet potatoes are a vital source of Vitamins A and C, and iron, besides having betacarotene as antioxidant. 2) Relax and rest, and refrain from being tired or stress out. Maintain a positive or optimistic attitude, as much as possible. No doubt, we should be in control of our emotions and feelings by focusing all the good things/happenings in our lives, rather than the unpleasant ones. Try to learn a new sport, like ice skating, if you're physically able and that you can afford. 3) Love or desire to go outside. Don't just stay in your house. If you can and are able, find time to give your body to do (even simple) exercise, walking or jogging/running, outside of the house, around the neighborhood, or in a nearest city park. That is, if there's no thick snow/black ice on the ground that compromises your safety from going out. 4) If you ski, practice safety. Use safety gears such as googles, special caps or helmets, and try to use that "over the counter" sports guard made of thick rubber to protect your teeth in case you stumble or fall. 5) Use sunglasses or colored spectacles. Even if it's winter, we still have get heat from sunshine, unless it's totally gray outside. Try using shades/eyewear that gives 100% protection to our eyes from UVA/UVB or ultra-violet rays. And don't forget to wear ski googles if you're outside and on top of a mountain. 6) Remember to think of your heart. In this season filled with joy and love, think of your heart. Visit your doctor to have your blood pressure and your other vital signs checked/examined. Same with your blood cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. Ask your doctor what needs to be done to help improve your health. 7) Drink. Do I need it, you ask? But, of course, you do. For us adults, drinking moderate amount of red wine, while having lunch or dinner, is good and beneficial to our health, especially this winter. (Note: Consult with your doctor, prior to drinking wine/alcohol, especially if you,re taking medication.) According to mayoclinic.com, there's this substance found in the skin and seeds of grapes , called "resveratrol" that's present in red wines. It is good for the health of the heart. While drinking it in moderation, it's also good to try "sparkling water" or "seltzer." 8) Don't overdo staying/snuggling in bed. Even if it's easy to turn the thermostat on ( to adjust the temperature, hot or cold, in the room or whole house), or to have multi-layered clothing/blanket at night, it's not a good idea when sleeping. It 's important to have room temperature to be between 65 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It helps to have a goodnight sleep if it's not too cold or too hot. Prefer to have a mild or cooler room environment and refrain from doing late exercise, prior to sleep, in order to have that "sleepy mood/feeling."

Yes, it's wintertime, folks! Brace ourselves with what may possibly come our way---harsh/extreme weather conditions with cold/bitter wind, snow, ice, etc. For drivers and travelers out there, let's observe safety and civility at all time (i.e, being tact and polite, and respectful when stopped by a State patrol or police officer, no road rage, no rude remarks or shouting at other drivers when confronted/provoked). Let's be extra careful and watch out for impending traffic jam (or any accident that may occur). For this coming New Year, especially if and when we attend/host a New Year's Eve party/celebration, let's not drink and drive. If we drink, let's drink in moderation. Beforehand, designate a friend-driver who is sober. Better if we call  home if we need a ride or are unable to (drive) because we're too drunk to drive. Remember not to endanger anyone, including ourselves. Yes, folks, we can save lives, make a difference in the world in varied ways. Let's practice common sense this wintertime and beyond. Have a Safe, Happy, Healthy New Year!-chris a. quilpa, 28 Dec 2011