Healthy You:
Embrace Winter
by Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center
A Maine winter can be quite daunting. Driving on
icy roads, trying to keep your home warm, shoveling the
driveway, trudging to work or running errands in mindnumbing coldness, scraping the roof, and going for days
without hardly seeing the sun can all add up to a heap of
stress and aggravation. Like many people, come February I
yearn for the smell of freshly cut grass and barbecues in the
backyard. But as much as I look forward to summer, some
of my favorite memories are actually tied to times when
the temperature strained to reach the 20 degree mark. I
can vividly recall how much fun I had smashing into the
snow banks with my dad in the old plow truck, the thrill
of victory (or agony of defeat) I shared with my brothers
during neighborhood snowball fights, helping my mom
decorate our home to give it that magical holiday touch,
skating in a parking lot turned ice rink, and sledding with
friends on snow days.
Embracing winter can lead to a lifetime of
wonderful memories. It also presents us with many unique
opportunities to participate in fun, inexpensive, and healthy
activities. Check out these suggestions to help [