10 Tips for Surviving Winter Weather

Good Morning,

The weatherman has promised 5 more days of crummy weather so I've asked myself WWBTGD? (What would Buddha Teacher Gil do?) After bending down to straighten out his meditation mat, I believe he would hold up an apple and say,

"We suffer less if we create meaning from it."

The apple of course suggesting I unplug from my iPod the straightening of the mat an invitation to consider the trajectory of William Tell's arrow had he a shortened leg and a stiff wind at his back.

(SPLAT?!!?)

so...

I've delved into my winter experiences so far this season and come up with

10 Tips for Surviving Winter Weather

1. Take control of your falls. When caught in the midst of an icy patch, try not to panic, tighten and/or flail. Go down on your own terms. It's best just to go limp and drop. Remember this little phrase "To bruise means I can reuse!" (the corollary "If I fight it. i'm really gonna bite it!)

2. A toe-drag gait (tracked with the windy path left in the snow...) is facilitated with a light snow dust. A fluffy snow can also offer a padded landing space. Do not get out the snowblower too soon.

3. When walking it's important to use a cane or other poking device such as a fallen tree branch to explore the path ahead. "If it's snow it's a go. Again, "if it's ice think twice!" Please disregard if traveling on ice skates.

4. Be extra careful in parking lots. Watch for icy patches like hazard lines and disability markings in the painted areas. I believe it's unfortunate how so far through use of modern man's initiative and planning we've made things worse. I propose a grass routes initiative. We need an army of people wearing fanny packs filled with road salt, sand or kitty litter!!! When out running errands or on a Johnny Appleseed walkabout drop a handful whenever you come upon a spot of painted ice.

5. Remember most wheelchair tires do not go in the snow. I'm learning this one the hard way. Three times this year I thought the walk was passable from my car to the doors of the gym. What I did not account for was snow drifting...

It's common knowledge do not drive a car into standing water in flooding conditions. What looks like 3 inches of water is actually 3 engine flooding feet.

The same can be said for wheelchair travel conditions in wiiiiindy Kansas. A dusting of snow soon becomes a tire sinking, panic huffing cussing !@#$ mountain in spots.

It is important NOT to wait for helicopter rescue. Rely on some Good Samaritans to make use of their workouts and ask for a 25 yard shuttle push!

6. Flares!...flares. Always pack the emergency kit, in case you get stuck in a crowd, with attention grabbing flares. (*social psychology bystander effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect).

7. Remember in a blizzard you are on “own time.” Let go ever so briefly from the discipline of external pressures and demands of routine. Here are two things you may want to do while trapped indoors.

Work on weight gain goals
Look out the window and pretend you’re in a snow globe
Call a friend and offer support as they try to potty train their puppy

8. Cut back on the caffeine. Cold weather makes for tight muscles ready to spasm and contract. Caffeine ensures this will happen often when your bladder reeeeeally has to pee.

9. Cultivate your practice of compassion, loving kindness and generosity. Everything hurts less when you do this.

10. I've just done a little research and learned yes, birds who winter up north DO suffer in the cold. I'm not sure what to do about this yet but I will start by keeping up the outdoor feeders...while I dress in layers, wool underwear, waterproof boots, gloves, scarves and then take off my gloves to throw the bread and put back in my iPod.

keep on keeping on everyone!!!

Happy Monday,

Amanda