Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
I’m going to be achingly honest with all of you here. The winter holiday season is hard for me for a few different reasons.
One, I have seasonal depression that usually kicks in by early November when Ontario’s days grow short and our sunlight is weak and brief at best.
Two, I live thousands of miles away from the safe and loving relatives that I’d otherwise get to see during the various winter holidays we celebrate. That homesickness is tough, especially since I haven’t been able to see those family members in a few years now thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Three, I used to work in an industry that was extremely busy in November and December and have some bad memories of those stressful months that felt like they’d never end.
When you combine all of these factors together, I basically begin counting down the days until January 1 arrives as soon as the leaves begin to change colour. In the meantime, I am happy for all of you who enjoy this time of year and hope it’s wonderful for you.
What I really want to do for the next few weeks is curl up and think happy bookish thoughts as winter approaches. Maybe some bookish wintry gifs and photos will suffice? I will be including brief alt-text descriptions of everything in this post for readers who are sight-impaired or who can’t see the photos and gifs for some other reason.
Reading by a fireplace sounds nice.
So does making a snow angel. That always feels like it should be the beginning of a story to me. Maybe it’s because you leave behind such pretty imprints in the snow when you’re done.
I went carolling a few times with friends as a teenager. I might be too shy to do it now, although I’d happy listen to others do it or help pick out the songs! Once again, this sounds like the opening scene of a book. I’m sure the closing scene would involve the main character performing a solo or something similar.
There is a certain beauty to seeing trees covered in ice and snow. It’s almost like seeing a poem come to life.
And some of the winter stock images of fantasy scenes are delightful.
It’s also nice to be entering the tea, hot chocolate, and other beverages time of year. There’s nothing like sipping a cup of something warm and soothing while you read.
I’ll end this post with a question. Is it too soon to start thinking about what to read in 2022? The new year will be here sooner than we might think!
What do you all think of the winter holiday season?
Aaaw I hope December will be cozy for you <3 I totally understand the seasonal depression. My depression has gotten worse when the days started getting darker and shorter too.
Thank you. Sorry to hear you have seasonal depression, too.
Sorry the winter is tough for you. I’m already thinking about what I want to read next year. I’m always excited to start over and find new awesome books.
Thank you! I hope you read a lot of wonderful books in 2022.
All of these are lovely, but right now I would really love to read by the fire.
🙂
I’m more than a thousand miles away from family, too. Curling up with a good book next to a roaring fire is also my idea of a great winter day. Hope you have lots of wonderful reads this season!
My post:
https://pagesandpaws.com/2021/12/07/ttt-10-tastes-of-the-season/
It’s nice to know that other people are far away from their loved ones, too. I hope you’ll get to see them in 2022.
I’m sorry the winter is a rough time of year for you. I love all the things you said in your post. I’m already planning my reads for next year. I’ll leave some space open for new challenges, but I am going to start a list of books I want/ need to read for next year.
Thank you!
I hope your 2022 reading year is wonderful.
Thank you for sharing. This time of year can be difficult for many reasons. Re sunlight, have you tried one of the sun simulation devices? Some are even alarm clocks that wake you up with a sunrise! I’ve heard good things from people who use them! Here’s just one example of a sun simulation device…..but I haven’t researched them….just the first that popped up https://www.amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Therapy-Adjustable-Brightness/dp/B07TD96K5T/ref=sr_1_1?crid=143E1EVSKP5KM&keywords=simulated+sunlight+lamp&qid=1638901269&sprefix=simulated+sun%2Caps%2C407&sr=8-1
Happy reading!
You’re welcome.
Yes, I use one of those lamps every day! It truly does help.
Thanks for the recommendation, though. It was so kind of you to look up a lamp for me. 🙂
I’m sorry this is a hard time for you! I definitely relate, something about the dark and cold days always gets to me, though for me it usually starts a little later, more like January. Hope you’ll have a great bookish winter and 2022 though!
Thank you! I hope you have a good winter, too.
Oh I hope that this season goes quickly for you and that you find some good books to take your mind off of things for a little bit.
I love the lead up to Christmas and hate the new year. We have some sad family things going on at the moment so I am not particularly looking forward to next year anyway.
Thank you!
I’m sorry you’re going through sad family things at the moment.
I totally understand what you’re saying, Lydia. I worked retail for decades, so by the end of December I wanted to hide in my house and not come out for years. I’m sorry you haven’t been able to see your loved ones. I pray that that situation will change in the near future.
What lovely photos you shared. And, no, definitely not too early to think of 2022. As you know from visiting my blog, I already posted about it. 🙂
Thanks for sharing today.
You’re welcome. Thank you for your kind words!
Christmas was alway my late husband’s favorite holiday. Every year, he’d take a day off work and not tell me when, and I’d come home to a surprise decorated house. It was lovely…but I can’t decorate without him. And the pressure from people—‘You’ll feel better if you put up a tree!’—-makes me want to punch someone. So, I see you, and if you need to vent this month, you have all of us to vent to.
Thanks for stopping by this morning. Always nice to see that you’ve visited. 🙂
Lori
You’re welcome.
Thank you for the offer! I just might do it. 🙂
I absolutely love these pictures! Winter is my favorite season, although the holidays are a bit much for me. I hope this year is a good one for you.
Thank you! I hope the holiday season passes quickly for you.
Hope your December goes well!
I hate the shorter days from the bottom of my soul, but I I do love decorating for the holidays.
Thank you.
Christmas decorations are beautiful and uplifting for sure.
I also struggle this time of the year. It is not too early to be thinking about 2022 reads, I have already committed to several challenges and reviews! I hope this month passes quickly and has a lot of great reads for you! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/top-ten-tuesday-free-little-library.html
I’m sorry to hear you struggle, too!
Good for you for committing to those challenges already. They’re a great distraction, aren’t they? 🙂
I’m sorry this is a hard time for you. The shorter days are definitely a struggle for me.
https://christianbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/2021/12/books-i-wish-i-could-read-again-for.html
Thank you! Sorry to hear the shorter days are hard for you, too.
It’s never too soon to start thinking about what you want to read in 2022! I already have a list going. Hope these winter days go by quickly for you. 🙂
Thank you! And that’s really cool.
I love the winter time, I love getting all my cosy clothes out and seeing all of the Christmas lights makes me really happy. I’m sorry to hear that it’s not so easy for you though, and hope for your sake that it passes quickly.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/12/07/top-ten-tuesday-345/
Thank you very much.
Those snow pictures are awesome! Fingers crossed for a white Christmas here in the upper midwest.
Thank you! I hope you get lots of snow.
I love a lot of things about December, but it’s also an incredibly difficult month in a lot of ways. You’re not alone finding it tough, and it’s okay that it’s hard for you–I hope you get to do a lot of the things in these photos, and that they bring you comfort through it.
Thank you!
I hope the difficult parts of it are easier for you this year, too.
I’m pretending that January is an extension of 2021 so I don’t feel bad about not reading so many 2021 releases!
I like the way you think!
Winter can be so rough, sometimes! And the fact everyone expects us to be so enthusiastic all the time makes it even harder. I get mild SAD, but weirdly last year was one of the better ones? I hope you get all the cozy vibes you’re hoping for!
Thank you! I appreciate that and hope your SAD is mild again this year.
Good job looking for those silver linings, even if they’re hard to find sometimes.
Thank you!
I’m sorry this time of year is hard. I hope you find ways to stay cozy and comfy while it lasts! I love these images!
Thank you very much!
I’m sorry this is a stressful time of year for you. I hope December goes quickly so you can be happier in 2022🥰
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing. I am sorry you have to deal with that (and the distance from relatives also). That must be hard. I love your GIF’s and image. The PEanuts caroling is always a fave. 🙂
I love trees covered in ice and snow as well.
Hot chocolte! 🙂
Thank you. I appreciate that.
I’m so sorry to hear this is such a difficult time of year for you. I hope future Winters are much kinder to you <3
Thank you very much!
I’m sorry that winter is tough for you. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay. Not being able to be with family and friends does make it much harder. I really hope we start to see a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. <3 Yes… totally agree when the trees are covered in ice and snow. It feels so magical!!
Thank you. My fingers are crossed that 2022 will be the turning point in the pandemic!
Snow. Anything snow. Living in the south and growing up in Florida, not a lot of snow. And although we have gotten some a few times in Texas it’s not the same.
Here’s hoping this season isn’t to much on you.
Thank you!
And, yeah, there’s not much snow that far south for sure. 🙂
I understand being apart from family over the holidays. I moved to Ontario 13 years ago and have never been back home on Christmas morning (we went back once a couple of days after Christmas). The sun setting at 4 pm is no joke a depressing thing! I’m just glad I don’t live much further north, where it gets dark much earlier.
May you find a bit of joy in your cozy reads!
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/holiday-books-that-dont-mention-the-holidays-in-their-title/
It’s cool we both live in Ontario!
I have a lot of empathy for people who live in Northern Canada. I don’t know how they handle little to no sunlight for months on end. They’re so strong!
It’s summer here but…….the weather doesn’t seem to realise that so this is more relevant for me than it would be normally!
I hope you get nicer weather soon.
I’m so sorry you have a hard time with this time of year. I had a college roommate who had SAD and it was really tough for her to be in Utah during the winters. Hopefully, you have some techniques in place to help you get through. Reading by a crackling fireplace definitely sounds like a good one!
No, I don’t think it’s too early to think about what to read in 2022. I’ve been eyeing some tantalizing new releases as well as some titles I’m rolling over from this year to next.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thank you, Susan!
Yes, I have some good coping mechanisms. I hope your roommate did, too.
Lovely pictures! I’m sorry for the seasonal depression; it must be hard.
I’ve seen caroling in comics and TV, but it’s not done here in Finland. It sounds lovely. I’d also love to curl up with good books and hot chocolate for the winter.
Thank you!
It’s fascinating to me that carolling isn’t a thing in Finland. What are a few of your winter traditions?
I’m so sorry to hear this is such a rough time of year for you. I do hope that you’ll be able to see your family soon. I’m already thinking ahead to what I hope to read in 2022, although most so far are books I wanted to get to in 2021 and failed, lol.
Thank you for your kind words!
May you have time to read over the holidays.
Wintery scenery is BEAUTIFUL, but I am NOT a winter person. I also don’t like humidity, so I’m kind of “stuck.” 😉 But either way, I love your Olaf gif. Hope you’re doing okay Lydia and this year has gone better for you.
Thanks, Rissi!
I always do feel for those in retail or other businesses that need to get busier when everyone else seems to slow down.. As for me, I enjoy this time mainly because of the festive atmosphere and lights everywhere and that the kids enjoy a downtime different from the summer..
That makes sense. And I’m glad you have empathy for people who work retail. 🙂
Winter is such a hard especially with focus around having to be happy no matter on Christmas.Its so much pressure.
Take care
Absolutely! Thank you.
I have a hard time with the holidays, too. I hope you’re able to enjoy your winter a little bit.
Thank you. Sorry to hear the holidays are also hard for you.
It’s never too early to think about next year’s TBR! Have you started planning? I have a spreadsheet started but I’m probably not going to follow it since I’m more mood reader than planner.
I hope you’re enjoying your warm beverage and can find some solace.
Thank you! Yes, I’ve started planning my 2022 TBR a little.
Good luck with your spreadsheet.
Thanks for sharing. I worked retail for 20 years so holidays are so so. Have a great week.
Wow, you were in that industry a long time! I only did about 5 years.
“like a poem come to life” — that is such a beautiful description of ice-covered trees. You picked a gorgeous image to illustrate, too. The real thing is always breathtaking.
Sending good vibes to make January feel like it’s getting here faster. I know exactly what you mean about lingering memories, it stinks that December had to be one of those months for you.
Aww, thank you! I appreciate your kind words and well wishes.
I love all those things about this time of year, too. I hope the next few weeks are especially bookishly cozy for you!
Thank you.
“There is a certain beauty to seeing trees covered in ice and snow. It’s almost like seeing a poem come to life.”
Beautifully put, Lydia. Enjoyed your post. Thanks for visiting my blog earlier.
You’re welcome. Thanks for your kind words.
I go through such a hot chocolate phase every December, I definitely appreciate the hot beverages photo. Add that to reading in front of a crackling fire and I’d be sorted for hours!
Very cool!
I hope you find some comfort this holiday season, maybe with a great book!
Thank you!
I’m sorry you’re going through seasonal depression 🙁 *hugs*
These all sound wonderful! I loveeee drinking hot cocoa during the winter months. I started adding pb2 to it and it takes JUST like a warm no bake cookie. I am obsessed. I also freaking love seeing the snow and ice frozen on trees. I think it looks so beautiful! It’s never too early to think about what to read for next year 🙂
Amber @ Escape Life in the Pages
Thank you.
And I’ll have to try pb2 in hot cocoa. That sounds amazing!
I’m in Michigan and totally understand the seasonal depression. My husband got me one of those UV lights this year and I’m curious to see, at the end of the season, if I think it made a difference. Right now I’m trying to use it 45 minutes a day, I’ve been building up in 5 minute increments. We’ll see. I hope you find some wonderfully engaging books to dive into this season to help you through.
My UV light sure helps me. I hope you have a good reaction to yours, too!
And thank you.
Okay these photo’s and gifs are so cute!
Aww, thanks!