As the Ice Melts

First things first — we missed you.

If you’ve been wondering where Chicks Coop has been, you’re not the only one. This space has been quiet for a little while, and honestly, it turned into a way-too-long hiatus. Not because I didn’t want to be here, but because life just kind of stacked up all at once.

First it was mental health. Then sickness rolled through the house. Then more mental health. Somewhere in the middle of all that, routines disappeared, motivation faded, and the days just kept slipping by.

Sometimes life doesn’t fall apart in one big moment. Sometimes it slowly piles on until you look around and realize you’re stuck in a season you never meant to stay in.

And winter has a funny way of making that season even heavier.

There’s something about this time of year that can really mess with your mind. The days are short. The sun disappears before you even feel like the day really started. You wake up, go through your routine, blink — and somehow it’s already getting dark again. The short days make life feel like it’s flying by.

You spend more time inside because it’s cold, and after a while the walls start to feel a little closer than they used to.

I love snow. I really do. There’s something peaceful about it. Quiet. Still. Beautiful in its own way.

But cold without snow? I hate it.

It’s just gray skies and freezing air. Everything outside feels paused. The parks are empty, the trees are bare, and most days you’re cooped up inside because it’s too cold to go anywhere — and honestly, there’s not much to do anyway.

And when that feeling stretches on long enough, it can start messing with you more than you realize.

Your motivation drops. Your patience gets thinner. The smallest things start irritating you. Sometimes you feel exhausted for no reason at all. Other days you just feel stuck — like you’re sitting in the middle of a quiet depression and can’t quite explain why.

If you’ve felt that way this winter, you’re not alone.

A lot of people go through this every year without realizing what’s happening. Our minds need light just as much as our bodies do, and when the days get darker and shorter, it can take a real toll.

But the thing about seasons is that they always change.

Right now the days are already stretching a little longer. The sun is starting to hang around a bit more each evening. Soon the air will soften. Trees will wake up again. Kids will be riding bikes outside. Windows will open and fresh air will finally move through the house.

Life will start to feel lighter again.

And if you’re in a hard mental season right now, I want you to remember something — the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than it feels.

Sometimes the best thing we can do in these heavier seasons is hold on to the small things. Step outside for fresh air when the sun is out, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Take a short walk. Open the blinds and let the light come in. Turn on music that lifts your mood. Move your body a little.

Small things don’t seem like much, but they remind your mind that you’re still moving forward.

And if your routines fell apart like mine did this winter, give yourself some grace. Getting back into rhythm doesn’t happen overnight. It happens slowly, one step at a time, one good day at a time.

That’s what I’m doing right now.

Getting back into routine. Getting back to writing. Getting back to showing up here again.

Because sometimes the best way out of a dark season is simply to start moving again.

So if this winter has been heavy for you, hold on just a little longer.

Warmer weather is coming.

Longer days are coming.

More sunlight is coming.

And sometimes that’s the reminder we need to keep going. 🌤️

Psalm 30:5

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”