Dear Winter,

You are back with your cold, hard facade.

Yeah, you look tough. You make me a little angry sometimes with the icy driveway, slow commute, multiple complicated layers of clothing, and ruined plans. OH, and Don't get me started on the pneumonia, Influenza, and stomach viruses you toss around in abundance like candy at a parade!

My body tells me to hate you. My skin cracks, my lips chap, my eyebrows even furrow when I focus too long on your presence. I have to tell you though, Winter, I've grown to love you.

When the days are short and the dark falls over my home like a closing casket, it actually comforts me. It slows me down and allows me to feel the freeze that simultaneously takes place in my life when you are around. Ever since having children I've felt out of place a little fickle and torn. I'm always asking myself how I got here and what to do next. You've shed some light on the answers for me though. 

I stood in your fresh powder listening to each individual flake fall to the ground, landing in the only possible place it could because it was that flakes destiny, I knew that it too was the same for me. I don't believe that life is predetermined. However, we can't go back, so we make our next choice and move ahead in the only direction that choice can take us. So, in essence, there is no other place we could go. I am here, Winter, with you. Layers upon layers pile up and accumulate. No matter how much I shovel and plow things to the side or trudge right through, the only thing to do is be here with you. I watch you so often now and have looked upon you for so long that, beyond all of your annoying traits, I can see your beauty. I can see the necessity that is your existence. I know that underneath the frost a new life is beginning. A new season is already here. I've seen growth through the strength of your chilly winds. You are outside my window now, taunting and calling to me. You aren't concerned with what I think of you, you could care less how I feel about you. You are strong, Winter. I admire you. And, though I barely feel like moving, you move me. You never have before. That's the thing about love. It happens to you and you're not sure how or why. Even more awe inspiring is its ability to grow over time and in adverse conditions. For so long I experienced you as an obstacle, a force to be reckoned with and better only in memories or pictures. You've caused a lot of problems for people this year. There have been power outages, school closings that must be made up, and temperatures that have done true damage in some people's lives.

I forgive you.

I hope that other people can. You can't go back, Winter. You can only forge ahead and try to do what's right. Try to think about what will result in the best outcome for the most people. Me, that's what I'm doing.  I get cold, I make life hard for people too. Me and you, we aren't that different. But eventually it has to end. And you, Winter, give me reassurance that it will.