#4 Bundle Up!

Unfortunately, sometimes we have to go out into the cold. You might still work with an ex, visit a place with bad memories, or even simply maintain a stressful schedule. Though we sometimes act like it, we aren’t bears, so we can’t just hibernate until spring. So what do we do? How do we manage the damage and protect our vitals until spring comes? Let’s figure this out together. 

When I think of a jacket, I think of all the heat that gets kept in the body. That means keeping all your happiness as close to you as possible. Now, I could say something dumb like “oh, just wear your favorite shirt and going off to your crappy job will suddenly be a breeze!” But I’m not that foolish. I recognize that winter is no joke, that finding some sense of control to keep warm throughout the day is kind of rough. And even the best of jackets don’t fully save you from the cold. No, it isn’t just the hotheads who think they’re fine going out in a tank top that are at risk of freezing. It’s everyone. Cold exposure comes for us all if we let it. 

So what does putting on a jacket look like? Well, part of it is trying to distract ourselves from pain that we can’t handle. We can at least start to filter some of it out so that it doesn’t overwhelm us. Growing up, I used to have my earbuds in all the time. And I do, in fact, mean all the time. From breaks, to study halls, to the long ride home, every free moment was time for one more song. If music addiction could be a thing, I had it. But it brought me comfort, and ultimately was one of the biggest reasons that my childhood has so many happy memories.

Spend as much time as you can with your mind elsewhere. Bury yourself in your favorite book, keep a pocket journal, heck-even carry around your favorite drink if nothing else will do. Use anything you can to keep yourself even just a little bit distracted from the biting cold that is now attacking you. 

But we can’t always walk around with our attention completely pulled into something else. Sometimes we have to be present in those excruciating moments. We have to find a way to keep going when we’d much rather get going. What do we do then? When you’re flat out of energy at work, with the weekend nowhere in sight; when life feels like it’s never going to stop dragging and nothing will ever change. How do we endure then? 

As much as possible, we should keep the vulnerabilities to a minimum. Take less risks in sharing with people socially, and leave less opportunity for really bad things to happen. The world is already a little more hostile, so leaving yourself open to another attack, or just the wear-and-tear of the elements, will run the risk of making things worse. Keep yourself safe and limit the amount of time you spend out in those cold environments.

And, on that note, live with the knowledge that your time outdoors is temporary. If you read yesterday’s post on shelter, then you may start to feel a little more attached to your warm, comfy place. Continue to build that place up as something to look forward to. Remind yourself of the temporariness of the outdoors and fix your eyes on your happy place as you brave the storm. Then, as the crisp blasts and the dull aches attack, you will be well-prepared to make the journey, returning to your place of warmth. 

And I also find that this is where God comes in. I have had so many days lately where I have basically told Him “God, it’s too cold. I don’t know if I can make it through this day. I don’t care what, but I need a miracle to get through this one.” And usually when I say that, I’m trying to keep my expectations reasonable. “He’ll just change me, right? I’ll probably get a little oomph and be just fine.” I’ll think to myself. And then I’ll turn around and bam! Suddenly, my whole situation changes and everything works out just fine. 

Just the other day, I sat down for lunch and prayed “God, I have no idea how I’m going to make it through this day. I’m a nervous wreck and it’s killing me. Send help!” I know this doesn’t sound like much to be worried about, but it was definitely bugging me. We were working with copper pipes, which take a little more know-how to build. At least, more know-how than I have at this point. I didn’t want to be standing around all afternoon and it was starting to look like that might happen. 

But then I got back from lunch and someone called me over to go clean all the connecting pieces for the pipes. Then someone else yoinked me to help organize the pipes. I went from one yoink to another until suddenly it was time to clock out. I know it may sound like I’m overreacting, or that it was mere coincidence, but I asked for help and things worked out. And I keep asking for help and things keep working out. Seems I’ve stumbled on some kind of formula and I’m choosing to see it as a little arrow that points back to heaven. But I’ll save an in-depth theology debate for another time.

But other times, He does get to work in my head. Just today, after praying that same “send help” prayer, I started reading Manafest's Fighter book. The chapter I turned to was  about mindset. Specifically, it was about how we need inspiration as often as we need food. He talked about how he keeps an inspiration journal that he fills with good quotes and stuff. I happen to keep a journal in my pocket at all times, so I decided to give inspiration a try. I just wrote down “this afternoon is mine. It’s going to fly by like it’s no big deal.” And while it took a good half hour to really let that idea sink in, eventually I found myself suffering from far less clock-gawk than usual. And before I knew it, the afternoon was over and it was time to clock out. 

I’m not saying that we’re all gods with unlimited power, but prayers can get answered. Warmth is there, and sometimes we just need to reach out and ask for it. It can come in the form of a jacket, or it may be a hand that stretches out, commanding the day to be less cold. It may not be as warm as we’d like. Heck-it may still be pretty chilly out. But it will be enough to get you through to shelter. Of that, I am certain. 

So I pray that warmth finds you. That you make it through the cold, winter’s night, knowing full well that the cold won’t last forever.

Until Next Time

May Peace be your Guide.