"I don't appreciate the heat of summers, nor the showers that the rainy season brings and I hate winters" I declare to anyone with ears.

Then, one beautiful year, I experienced winter in all its splendor. The entire landscape transformed into a brilliant white, reminiscent of the most exquisite Christmas card, a sight that only Van Gogh could capture. The trees stood tall and proud in their bare beauty, while the sky was a vivid blue dotted with fluffy white clouds. The whole world seemed to hold its breath, afraid to disturb the flawless scene.

This is what I saw from my window while inside a warm and cozy room. Did it challenge my long-held belief that I disliked the cold, the dampness, and the darkness that winter represented for me? I wondered. Armed with a thick jacket and a warm scarf, I decided to find out. The roads were wet and slippery but the patterns water and frost made on the sidewalk were worth slipping and breaking an arm or leg. The trees looked like delicate diamond chandeliers with the ice and snow on their branches. The footprints on the snow were a map to a hidden treasure. The icy winds were a treat too, freeing me from lethargy, and infusing me with the energy to take on anything. The snow covered all that was undesirable to create a wonderland I never wanted to leave. I LOVE winters!

There is an astonishing number of things in life that we simply give up or decide that we don't need or like. We find something we don't appreciate and do not make the effort to scratch beneath the surface. Go out today and scratch the surface of your winter. Who knows what treasures wait for you?