It is in-between weather. Milwaukee is not cold enough to be completely frozen, yet long gone is the flip flop wearing weather encompassed by balmy breezes off the lake. Still, it is the time of the year where oohs and ahhs accompany any type of smattering of snow and the kids from California do not walk outside without their floor length parkas, knitted hats, and colorful mittens. Soon, they will be in for an even bigger surprise.
I have always hated the cold. It depresses me to walk down Wisconsin, only to greeted by barren trees, tugging my sleeves over my hands to rub feeling into my chapped, freezing hands. The blistery winds make the lines for LIMO seem impossibly long, and I worry about the plunging temperatures that will without a doubt accompany mid February.
It is the time of the year where trips home are long awaited and Christmas music seems to blare from the radio only days after November 1st. There needs to be months of celebration and little stress to accompany these gusty winds, final papers, and endless review sessions.
To combat my wintry blues, I want to highlight two unexpected individuals who showed me the definition of thankful and characteristics of grateful this holiday season.
Last week, I was talking to a couple freshman who attend Milwaukee high schools in the area. One of the boys was asked to describe his day using weather lingo. Immersed in his phone, I was not prepared for his answer. He did not pause a beat when he said: “I would say my day was like the moment when the sun goes down and the sky is full pretty colors.” I was struck by profound nature of this kid’s statement — and completely baffled by what it could mean.
A girl, whose sassy self reminded me of myself circa 2013, donning her knit boots and continually refreshing her “streaks” on snapchat, was energetic and loud. Yet, I wish I could say I was half as impressive as she is during my freshman year of high school. Between moves of her green Trouble piece on the board (she won of course), she told me she wanted to get a job by next year, and be moved out of the house by seventeen.
Many teenagers may threaten moving out because they clash heads with their parents, crave independence, or see themselves as mature enough to handle the “real world,” and ready to tackle the world.
Not to this girl. To her, independence and a move out of the house lessened the burden for her mom, a woman whose many children equaled a financial burden that was difficult to carry. It would mean less sleepless nights for her mom, a role model she obviously appreciated and valued.
Every situation can be viewed from a different perspective, a new outlook that can change your day or even your week. These preteens had wisdom past their years and sunny perspectives that I hope to carry with me in the future.
So as you are sitting down to dig into homemade holiday food, remember that as the winter brings about more hours of darkness, there is often that sunset that brings about bright colors right before the sun goes down. And that may be the perfect thing to be grateful for this season.