Winter is coming

As a North Dakota native transplanted in the tropics of Minnesota ( insert pathetic sigh), I fully understand the bitter hold that winter has on me. The frigid temperatures of the upper midwest are always the topic of conversation no matter where you go. At the first taste of a wintery wind, we'll often say, "Uff Da, it's cold out there!" "Ooof, that wind is brutal."

In the winter time, the majority of us isolate ourselves into our homes from the subzero temperatures. We skip taking the dog for a walk for fear we will fall flat on our backs as we navigate the ice skating rink like sidewalks. We bulk up on comfort food in attempts at filling our voids that winter brings us. And when we do go outside, we're bundled from head to toe, peering out beneath our hats and scarves, allowing only a slice of space to look out of. Welcome to winter. It's coming.

So, we know it's coming. That's a cold, hard fact ( pun intended). What are YOU going to do about it? Are you going to dissolve into a pile of blankets on your sofa in front of the fireplace with a bowl of chips and hot chocolate or are you going to set yourself up for an escape? If the latter is your choice, then we need to start talking.

Winter travel is a great way to keep yourself going through the dark and cold days of winter. It's a great way to keep yourself in shape; if you know you have a beach vacation coming up, you may be less apt to chow down on comfort food all winter long, letting yourself turn into the pile of mashed potatoes you just ate. It's the truth and we know it. I say all that time that travel inspires the heart, soul and mind and that is just what we need to survive our long, hard winters.

One of my favorite children's book is Frederick by Leo Lionni. He writes of a field mouse who doesn't quite pull his weight in terms of gathering food for the winter; instead, he's busy gathering up colors of the summer and having experiences while the others get ready for winter. The other mice dislike is daydreaming and consider him useless. At the end of the book, after the food is all eaten up in the mouse nest, the mice are distraught and it is Frederick who comes to save the day with his stories of his adventures in the warm sunshine and  his re-telling of  the colors of natures spender. Why do I love this book? I love it because it highlights the importance of having an escape from winters brutal hold on us and how visions of brighter days can carry through the shivery and sometimes endless snowy season.

I want this for you: I want you to plan your winter survival trip. I want you to sit on the beach and harvest colors, smells, and experiences that carry YOU through the rest of the winter. Imagine how you'll feel knowing that mid-winter, you'll be on your way to warmer weather, giving your achey bones and soul a much needed rest. Imagine how you'll feel returning back home ~ although it may very well be cold ~ when you pour over your vacation photos letting them transport you to a place and time when you were toasty warm, giving you hope for the upcoming spring.

Contact Viva la Vida Travel today, I'll be waiting for you.