Enjoying the sun on my face and breathing fresh air.

Hi, my name is Debbie and I need to be outdoors to feel normal and balanced. Currently, I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York and it has been too bloody cold to spend any decent amount of time outdoors this winter. The average temperature for January was 16°F with an incredible high of 54°F and low of -15°F. February if you can imagine, got colder, with an AVERAGE temperature of 11°F, YES, AVERAGE temperature! There was a pathetic high of 38°F and a frigid low of -22°F. That’s really cold and doesn’t even account for the relentless wind chill, which can give a person frostbite within 20 minutes of exposure. Suffice it to say, I have not spent too much time outdoors.

Snow drifts that look like sand dunes.

I am admittedly not a winter person, but I generally try to hike weekly nonetheless ~ not this year though. The other day, I realized that I was suffering from “Nature Deficit Syndrome” as well as cabin fever and feeling its adverse side effects, which are not pretty. At first, I thought my irritability was simply hormones, but when I stepped outside into the sunny brisk world, all I wanted to do was breathe in the fresh air, let the sun shine on my face and explore my surrounding. Nevertheless, within 10 minutes, my fingers started to freeze, and my lungs felt the crushing ice cold air rushing into them.  At that moment, I knew I had cabin fever. In order to feel balanced, I need to be “in” nature, explore, walk and breathe it in. This winter has gotten the best of me.

Looking out my window. It looks so beautiful but -12F out.

In January, I could get by with simply sitting in my somewhat warm house looking out the windows and appreciating the sunny day and watch the birds. However, after saying so long to February and welcoming March, with no end in sight, I am clearly losing my mind. I am tired of always being cold, plus we are running out of firewood. Everyone we have called to get more can’t get to their wood until the next thaw, which could be May by the looks of it.

Snow drifts that look like waves on the ocean.

I know I am not alone, the Ithaca tourism website redirected visitors to Key West, FL. Their site reads: “Due to this ridiculously stupid winter, Ithaca invites you to visit the Florida Keys this week. Please come back when things thaw out. Really, it’s for the birds here now.” They also provided a link to the Keys website at fla-keys.com.

At this point, the best I can do for now is to take short walks. I park further away from stores and pause before I get back into my car. Every morning, I rush to my outdoor thermometer hoping that it will read at least 25°F, and that the day will be filled with sunny skies. Because crazy at it seems that would be delightful and a welcomed surprise.

Walking a frozen Cayuga Lake when it was a balmy 24F.