For me, February can feel bleak after all the hustle and glitz of the holiday season is over. With mostly cold weather and gray skies and just a smattering of sunshiny days, I find myself feeling glad it’s the shortest month of the year—so it can come and go more swiftly. Yet each year, it arrives right on schedule, whether we like it or not. And I’ve learned that a negative outlook only makes the month drag on. My goal this year is to make the most of it.

We’re officially in late winter, which on the flip side means we’re on the cusp of spring. Still, February is full of contrasts. A morning may start out mild and turn bitterly cold and blustery in the blink of an eye. Those sudden shifts can be hard to take. The changing calendar reminds me of another season of transition—when my daughters started in a new school district and became the new kids at school. Even knowing the change would ultimately be positive didn’t make it any easier. Being the new kid is its own kind of bleak season.

When I asked my eldest how her first day went, she described it as being trapped in a room full of farts. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it made us all laugh—and it was surprisingly accurate. It’s been noted that by refusing to laugh at farts, you’ll still encounter the same number of them; you’ll just experience far less joy. It’s a silly example, but it makes the point. I think the same principle applies to February. We can’t skip it, but we can decide how we experience it.

That season taught me something I still forget every February: transitions are easier to manage when we name them out loud. When my girls were adjusting to a new school, we talked through what felt awkward, what felt scary, and what felt hopeful—sometimes all in the same car ride home. Winter transitions are quieter, but they stir up the same unease. Short days, long nights, and disrupted routines can leave everyone a little more frayed than usual.

So instead of grumbling my way through cold, gray days, I’m trying to focus on what this in-between season offers. I’m leaning into comfort and coziness—candles glowing in the evenings, warm sweaters, familiar comfort foods, and mugs filled with something hot. Valentine’s Day provides a welcome mid-month pause, complete with cards, flowers, and chocolate. And winter evenings at home offer something we often rush past the rest of the year: time. Time for quiet hobbies, shared games, and conversations that don’t need to be squeezed between activities.

Little by little, signs of change begin to appear. Each day brings a few more minutes of light. Ice and snow slowly give way. Retailers roll out garden displays, offering hopeful glimpses of flowers, herbs, and fresh vegetables waiting just around the corner. Spring isn’t here yet—but it’s closer than it was yesterday.

Before we know it, late winter will end, just as it always does. By choosing a better mindset—by laughing when we can and leaning into what this season offers—we can weather the changes, no matter the weather.

Article by Stacy Turner
Photo credit: Adobe Stock / By Zoran Jesic