Coping With Harsh Winter

Time has swiftly flown by and it is already winter season. As the Gregorian calendar comes to the final month of December, the chilly season has set in the Northern Hemisphere. People are gripped with the chill, especially in the mornings and evenings. Their routines too have changed keeping in view the short winter days and the cold, dry weather. It might mean getting early to bed and rising late in the mornings. Life gets a little more strenuous in winter and it goes without saying that people have to make adjustments on this season that is cold and dreary to the bones. 

The sun is significant for life on earth. Plants and animals gravitate towards the sunlight. And human lives too are governed around the sun. As the earth rotates on its axis while revolving around the sun, seasons change to which humans have to adapt accordingly. Life would be impossible without the sun and its warmth in winter is highly cherished. Sadly, this season as cold wave hits many countries, people even lose their lives to extreme cold. The optimal temperature of human body is 37 degrees Celsius and when exposed to extreme heat or cold, it undergoes various physiological changes in order to maintain homeostasis, or stable internal conditions. 

Hypothermia occurs in case of extreme cold in which the body experiences hazardously low temperature causing a slowed heart rate, confusion, vasoconstriction, a lack of coordination, and even unconsciousness and fatality. In Terai region of Nepal, cold wave causes human casualties due to hypothermia particularly in the poor, impoverished people who cannot afford warm clothes and shelter. 

Nevertheless, with precautions, the effects of the cold can be mitigated. Each year as winter settles in, people make provisions for safety and comfort. They throng to stores to shop for warm clothes, purchase heaters, install air conditioners and so on to tackle the cold. However, not everyone can afford to purchase warm clothes in winter which is why it would benefit the impoverished communities greatly if winter wears could be donated to them. As such, donating clothes is a deed of charity that could be helpful to many.

Come winter, cafes are filled with people wishing to escape the chill. Hot beverages like coffee, tea and chocolate drinks sell in exceeding amounts. At home, winter calls for an indoor time with a book to read and a cup of coffee in hand. Icy weather, however, becomes a nuisance to students as they are required to attend classes. The same goes for officers who have to attend office. They can only hope for warmer days as they brace themselves for the cold. As the natural landscape appears barren with shedding of leaves, the streets wear a forlorn look. 

In cloudy days, the skies turn grey and if it rains, it adds woes to the lives of people who cannot stop grumbling about the chill. Yet, amid the cold, the quietude of winter has its own grace. It is a time to pause all the hustle and bustle of daily life and take a moment to contemplate on one’s hopes, dreams and aspirations with a sense of gratitude. Winter is but a transition signaling people to slow down and reflect on their lives.