Final Quarter. As the excitement builds.

Shop window model. Preparations for the winter season. Photograph by author.

The shop windows are in interseason mode. They’ve not had the carpenters in to remodel and get ready for the winter ski season. The summer sale signs are down. Most are covered with cloth, with hints of leftover stock peeking out.

My e-mail box tells me to push for the last quarter. Somewhere along the way, I subscribed to small business newsletters, which went very quiet over the summer. They are now in full force telling me to finish strong. Others have started the countdown to Christmas, and the number of shopping days left. Not that many.

Winter has long been my favourite season. As a child, I loved the cold, but not the frozen feet. I feel comfortable wearing warm clothes and drinking hot chocolate. More than winter, I love snow, especially the pretty glitter snow of the mountains. The sort you get when it’s really cold, and at altitude. It’s very different from the wet soggy snow of London.

The anticipation of snow begins in autumn. This year it’s already here! Barely out of September. The real snow that stays, and requires me to dig out the car will be in December. The anticipation of snow makes preparation important. From changing winter car tyres, checking the snow chains, to uncovering the thermal underwear. The switch from salad to fondue and raclette. The “what state are my skis in?” to “Can I fit in my salopettes?”.That’s a big or rather a tight question this year.

Some things are uncertain, but some are likely and predictable. It is most likely to get colder, snow at one point, and I’ll eat melted cheese with stale bread.

When I look at my journal from last year, I can see some of the things didn’t happen, and some did. One of the most useful things was to imagine I was in the future, and write a thank you letter to myself at this point. I took the idea from The Art of Possibility. I said to enjoy the late roses of summer and for the excitement of winter, appreciate today.

I love my weeds as much as my unblossomed roses. Soyan Kim

What would I write from future me this year? I think there would be a sense of unknown and flexibility. A thank you for optimism, humour and fun. A thank you for keeping going and staying playful. Maybe a warm hug?

I will try to combine the preparation with adapting, playing with a sense of calm and getting outside to appreciate the roses of today and the glitter snow of tomorrow.

Put my shop window in order, right the model, and clean the glass. The shop window photograph at the top of the page is Louis Vuitton’s. It serves as a metaphor for my preparations. To make sure I’m ready to put myself out there.

Hearing the anticipation and holding a sense of optimism.
Doing the physical preparation for the season ahead.
Looking after yourself.
Writing a kind thank you letter to yourself.
Appreciating what is beautiful about today.
Using a metaphor for your preparations.

Whatever projects you’re planning for this winter, I wish you luck. If you’re planning on a little skiing, I hope you have fun. I hope there is a little glittery sparkle in your season, wherever you are.