Let me start by saying how much I love living in a place that experiences all four seasons. I absolutely love the diversity that each season brings, especially when running, walking or even just driving through the beauty of Mill Creek Park.

The way the scenery changes with each passing season feels like nature’s very own art show, painting the landscape in vibrant greens, fiery reds, soft whites and golden hues.

Here’s an idea I’ve been holding onto — what if someone captured the same spot in Mill Creek Park daily for an entire year?

One frozen moment in time, every single day, all year long. Imagine the stunning transformation you’d witness: snow-covered branches, the first bloom of spring, those hot, sticky summer days when the trees feel like they’re working overtime to provide us shade and the kaleidoscope of fall.

It would be like a visual diary of the seasons — a moving photographic piece of art. If I had the time (and the right camera), I’d submit it to The Butler as a tribute to our seasons, a way to remind us of the beauty we might overlook in our daily routines.

But then there’s winter. Specifically, this bone-chilling, soul-freezing kind of cold that clings to your bones.

I’ll admit it: I’m struggling. Maybe it’s my age. Maybe I’m just weaker to the brutal sting of twenty-below wind chills.

Or maybe the pandemic spoiled us all with the luxury of staying home in our warm, cozy spaces, eliminating the need to venture out when it feels like the air itself is biting at your skin.

These are the random thoughts that come into my mind when I battle the question: Do I go outside today, or don’t I?

The desire to hunker down is real. My favorite winter fantasy? Working in my comfiest clothes, wrapped in a blanket by the fire, with a warm mug of tea or coffee in hand.

The thought of leaving that cocoon — of stepping into the frost-covered abyss — feels almost unbearable.

And yet, life doesn’t pause for the weather. Work, errands, responsibilities — they all demand us to push through, even when the thermometer dips into the negatives.

Isn’t that just life, though? We’re constantly asked — whether by our jobs, families or circumstances — to do things we don’t want to, often at the most inconvenient or uncomfortable times.

It makes me wonder: Have we become weaker, as I sometimes feel, because we’ve had a taste of convenience and comfort? Or have we simply learned to set boundaries, drawing clearer lines around what we will and won’t tolerate?

I think it’s a bit of both. Maybe the cold forces us to confront those boundaries in ways the warmth of summer doesn’t. It’s a stark reminder that life is about adaptation — finding strength when we feel like retreating, pushing forward when everything in us longs to stay still.

So, from me to you: How are you handling this winter weather? Do you find yourself daydreaming about cozy days by the fire or do you embrace the frost as part of the cycle of life?

For me, the fire wins almost every time. But even as I dream of spring, I’ll try to find beauty in these icy days. After all, they’re just one piece of the masterpiece that is our seasons.

Stay warm out there. And if you find yourself walking through Mill Creek, take a moment to soak it all in.

Every season has its story — even winter.

Mother, author, entrepreneur and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.