Autumn is upon us. Suddenly the evenings are starting to draw in, the rain is coming thick and fast and the ground is littered with conkers and chestnuts; a reminder that the summer has waved goodbye and ushered in its colder cousin. I have always felt a little sad when this time of year greets me; perhaps because I anticipate the upcoming winter months when the sun begins to set in the middle of the afternoon and the days open and close in an endless grey. My friend Fiona loves Autumn. It is her favourite season and I have always assumed this is because she is from Ireland and therefore comforted by the colder weather and undeterred by the darker days. But she insists that what she loves is the colours of the trees changing; the rich yellows and oranges and reds coupled with a slight nip in the air. The jackets and scarves make an appearance, as do the ankle boots and cardigans and I must admit there is a little romance to it all. This is why I have decided to embrace this seasonal change and to enjoy the hygge that Autumn brings.
Hygge is a Danish word that has become very fashionable over the last couple of years because it perfectly encapsulates that feeling of cosiness and togetherness. Suddenly with one word I am transported to a roaring fire, a good book, a warm blanket and a steaming cup of tea. I must admit, I do love slouching around the house in a chunky knit, baking cakes while hearing the rain gently tapping at the skylight above and enjoying a hot bath as the evenings draw in. During the throes of summer, I feel energised; I feel the need to be productive perhaps because there are so many daylight hours. I’m a busy bee fluttering around getting things done. Then the Autumn creeps in and I permit myself to slow down a little. Surely we should respect the seasons and accept the differing moods and feelings that they bring?
I have always told myself that I’m not a winter person and I’ve often grown a little melancholy during the coldest months; namely, January and February when the novelty of Christmas has worn off and Spring hasn’t yet made her sweet appearance. This is the time of year that I like to escape to Australia and enjoy a second summer; throwing myself into the ocean, bathing in the UV rays and indulging in precious family time. I always return to the UK with a glow, both in my heart and on my skin. The extra vitamin D sustains me until the clocks spring forward in March and the days become long once more. Alas, this escape to the Southern hemisphere won’t be possible this season thanks to the global pandemic we are now living through. At first, I was deeply saddened and angry that I wouldn’t get a chance to see my family and I experienced feelings of being trapped; like a caged animal unable to enjoy her natural habitat. Then I realised that I wasn’t the only one separated from the people I loved and I decided to not only accept the situation but to find joy in it.
My mother helped me to do this. As always, she tends to have an uncanny ability to read my thoughts even before they are fully formed and out of the blue, she sent me an inspiring article about the people of Tromso, a town in Northern Norway who hardly experience any sunlight during the winter months. Curiously, rather than feeling bleak about the prospect, they are incredibly positive and embrace the change in seasons; looking forward to activities such as skiing and hiking in the mountains and practising the art of hygge (or Koselig as it’s called in Norwegian). Studies have shown that mindset is everything. If we view something as a challenge and an opportunity to learn and adapt rather than focusing on the negative aspects of an experience, we become far more resilient because we accept our situation and find contentment in the little things.
Every year I have been telling myself that I’m not a ‘winter person’ and my feelings of sadness have crept in as soon as the leaves on the trees begin to fall. But this year it’s more important than ever that I change my attitude as winter is certainly coming, potentially with a second ‘lockdown’ and I don’t get to travel 10 000 miles to escape it. Yes, I may have been raised in the sun but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn to love the darker months that this fine country brings. I have been living here for the past decade and since I am now a British citizen I need to learn to think like one and embrace the weather, whatever it may bring.
And what the Autumn brings certainly is beautiful. Walking along the canal when there is a gentle mist hovering in the air, admiring the brown and gold leaves dusting the ground and breathing in the smell of wood burning softly from the narrowboats certainly has its charms. It’s like being wrapped in a warm hug. Suddenly I permit myself to hibernate a little, to drink more tea, to move at a slower pace and to comfort myself with heart-warming food. In fact, now is the perfect time to try out a few vegan recipes if you have spent the last few months feeling curious about the cuisine. It is so easy to whip up a vegan soup, using whatever vegetables you have and a stock cube or two. I thicken my soup with potato, beans or lentils blended up once it’s been simmering on the stove for twenty minutes or so. It’s a lunch staple throughout autumn and winter, accompanied by a slice of homemade sourdough if I’m feeling fancy. You can’t get much more hygge than that!
Similarly, dinners are just as easy and delicious to prepare. Surely autumn and winter are the perfect seasons for curries, stews, chilli and bolognese? Well, I challenge anyone to not enjoy the rich flavour of this super easy lentil dahl or the comfort that this tempeh bolognese brings. The staple protein of vegan cuisine: chickpeas, beans, lentils and tofu lend themselves perfectly to curries, stews and pasta dishes. What better time to indulge the tastebuds with these rich flavours? And since we all like to reach for the carbs during the colder months, many of these dishes work perfectly with rice, couscous, naan bread or a crunchy baguette (or two!) The absence of salty meats, creamy sauces and cheese make these dinnertime treats practically guilt-free as they are packed with low-fat protein and vegetables, meaning you can load up your plate and not feel the least bit guilty!
The darker months always bring challenge and this year I fear will be the hardest of all. As we move into seven months of living through a global pandemic it’s difficult not to feel anxious, unsure and saddened. Saddened that we can’t be close to loved ones, that we can’t simply reach out and give a friend a much-needed hug. Unsure about what the rest of the year will bring; will we be confined to our homes once more? Will we lose our job? Will we be able to spend Christmas with family? And anxious about this unpredictable disease, which can wreak havoc even on the strongest among us and which doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we should truly live in the moment, not out of luxury but out of necessity. What’s the use of thinking too far ahead and making too many plans when we don’t even know what will happen next week? What’s the point of prioritising money over time and then not being able to visit a seriously ill loved one in hospital? What’s the point of constantly striving for ‘the next big thing’ when the next big thing may never arrive?
It’s considered cliché to live in the now but that’s because people only feel the urge to do it when they’ve had a life-changing experience. It makes us reassess our lives, who we really are and our place on this earth. But why should it take a catastrophe such as a global pandemic to wake up and start living? Surely, living in the present moment should be the easiest thing to do since the past has already happened and the future hasn’t arrived yet so really what choice do we have?
Well, we may not be able to control everything in our lives but we can certainly pop on the kettle, grab that cosy jumper and do as the Danish do; find the hygge, embrace the hygge and choose not to let it go until the warm sun smiles upon us once more. Because we must remember that the winter and the darkness don’t last forever, like everything they are finite. When the seasons change we will emerge stronger, warmer and more enlightened because we will have used this time of hibernation to learn and grow. We will discover what is truly important to us. We will appreciate the little things in our lives and by living in the moment we will be one step closer to finding contentment in ourselves.
Surely if the people of Tromso can do it, so can we?
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Beautifully written! I promise you that your family will miss you as much as you will miss them this Christmas. I agree with you though that mindset is a powerful tool.
Take care of yourself Ashleigh xo
Thank you Kerrie! I’m glad you enjoyed reading. And I will endeavour to stay positive over the coming winter months! 🙂