A coworker of mine wrote a cute article for the Link Newspaper about winter life. Having moved to Quebec from Ireland four years ago, he shares his anecdotes about learning to embrace winter, and offers tips for reaching your “frigid Zen.” It’s -21°C in Montreal with the windchill factor today, so I’ve been inspired to pass on my favorites from the list…
La survivance, non:‘Survival’ admits defeat, Montreal’s winter needs to be lived.
Tip #3: Adopt the right attitude
Using the winter as an excuse to not exercise is a recipe for the blues and a big belly, which will only increase your dread of the next winter.
Get a dog. Okay, this may not be practical for many people, but if you can own a dog, it’s the best way to get outside. No matter the weather, Fido will need to do his business and go for a walk. Once you get outside, you’ll be glad you did. In fact, Quebec’s sunny blue skies on a winter’s day are far more tolerable than the wet and cloudy days of the coasts. Oh, and dogs are great.
Tip #1: Get dressed for the occasion
Invest in proper boots, gloves, a hat and a jacket. Rather than buying one pretty coat and one functional jacket, combine your budget into one garment that is both cool and warm. This will give you the proper attitude to go outside, without freezing to death or looking like your dad. Layering is an effective tool to bridge the divide.
