Breaking Up with Winter – a 12-Step Program

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1. Let’s stop talking about it.  It seems that the weather was the subject of 90% of the conversations and news reports in the East and the Midwest. While we all subscribed to the "misery loves company" theory, the time has come to remove the topic from all conversations. Greet people with a smile and say "It’s a beautiful day!!" and forget the darn Polar Vortex.
2. Rather than routinely driving to work, the gym or the kids’ activities blankly staring at the car ahead of you...open the car windows, turn up the music and soak it in!  It’s okay if the people next to you at the stop sign see or hear you belting out a song. They will get a chuckle, and just think, that could be the only time they laugh all day!  Enjoy the wind in your face and even if it is a little cool, doesn’t it feel like heaven? Let’s face it. The really incredible thing about this past winter is that it has provided us with perspective to make us appreciate the months ahead even more.
3. Try a new form of recreation or rediscover an old favorite.  My husband, without my knowledge, signed me up to play on a co-rec softball team. I loved the sport and used to play quite a bit, but I quit when the kids were born. Now, my Friday nights will be spent at Techy Prairie Park and Fields in Northbrook with a 14-inch mush ball. I don’t relish the thought of the post-game aches and pains, but certainly look forward to being in the dugout with the team
4. Whenever possible, use "motor-less motion" like your feet, bike, skateboard, or scooter. The other day I asked my husband to deliver a party invitation down the street. Have you ever seen a man in his mid-forties riding a child’s scooter? While this isn’t exactly what I am suggesting to you, it made me realize that he was enjoying the clear sidewalks and the warmer air.  Sometimes when we are driving to my in-laws house or to church, I leave early and walk. While I don’t always make it all the way to our destination, I get some exercise before I am picked up.
5. Spend your lunch break outside. Whether you are sitting at a picnic table reading a book, walking or visiting a park it is all therapeutic.  It provides relaxation and it replenishes you. Breathe in the air and be thankful for that moment in time.  
6. Create a peaceful haven for you and your family outside. While we don’t get to use our outdoor living spaces as much as our warm weather counterparts, it is still wonderful to create a space that is inviting and beautiful. The space can include some comfy chairs with pillows on a patio surrounded by flowers. Take the time to enjoy your morning coffee, savor a cold beverage at the end of the day, spend time talking to a friend or reading a book.  
7. Lose the black, gray and brown and add some color to your wardrobe! Break out the brighter colored shirts and pants.  Lose the dark colors. It will change your attitude! Take advantage of the more casual work atmosphere during the warmer months.
8. Bring people together and have some fun!  In our neighborhood you know that there is a gathering on Friday when the pink flamingo is displayed in someone’s front yard during the week. The gathering is typically in someone’s garage or driveway, so cleaning the house isn’t necessary. Everyone brings food and drink to share. It isn’t about making it fancy...it is just about getting together.  
9. Visit your programs and witness the joy that you are providing for others. Do you realize how important your pool or camps are to the families in your community? There is no better way to feel good about what you do than to see a family enjoying a park, pool or program.  
10. Plan an outdoor dining experience, preferably with a view. One morning my husband and I surprised the kids with a picnic breakfast at a local beach. It was a memorable morning with quality time in a beautiful place. You might consider planning an outing at a restaurant where you enjoy sitting outside.  
11. Spend some time with nature.  Check out an arboretum, nature preserve, conservation district or botanic garden near you.  Make sure you take the time to just walk and enjoy. Classes in gardening, art, fishing or cooking might interest you. The most important thing for us as parks and recreation professionals is to not critique other recreation facilities. We are not there to do an audit. It is a surefire way to kill a meaningful experience. Just unplug and enjoy yourselves.
12. Take a lot of pictures and make a collage. When you look at the pictures remember the way you felt when you were having the experiences. Frame the collage and put it in a prominent place in your home and/or work. The memories will help you make it through when Old Man Winter shows up again, and we know he will.