Winter

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

In the Northeastern United States, Winter temperatures have preceded the beginning of that season on December 21st. It is currently 17 degrees Fahrenheit or -8.33 degrees Celsius.

This is the cold which freezes breath and smacks exposed skin harshly with the least movement of air. The same temperature can seem colder after dark than before. I look up at the black sky on cold Winter nights and think, "It's even colder out there." I realize then how precious our planet's atmosphere is. How essential it is for my own existence.

Paying attention to temperature, light and the quality of the environment becomes second nature with a daily practice of mindfulness. Finding your place in the great scheme of Nature is instructive, humbling. You don't have to climb Everest or walk in a rain forest to experience this wonder. This is the first step to becoming an intentional custodian of the planet and a respectful inhabitant of it.