Antonia Reviews: ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May
This book has renewed my perspective on the importance of taking time for yourself. During these shorter days I sometimes find myself feeling rather down. I am no longer in my garden tending to my allotment or reading a book in the sunshine and in general my mood can be a tad low. During periods of bad feeling May stresses the importance of self-care and taking the time for ourselves. These times, like the seasons, will come to pass and despite not having had the same experiences in life I can really relate to May’s experiences of wintering.
“Wintering is a time for the quiet arts of making: for knitting, sewing, baking and simmering, repairing and restoring our homes.”
Throughout the book May address various causes of difficult periods in her life and how she and others in similar positions coped with their wintering. The notion of coping rather than ‘fixing’ is a refreshing take on addressing difficulties in our lives. When reading the above passage, I looked back at my time in lockdown and realised I had: knitted a few easy hats and scarfs, baked more than before (too many chocolate cakes and banana breads), and had sorted the areas of my home that needed improving (such as painting fences and sorting out my wardrobe). Despite feeling as if I hadn’t been coping as well as I could have (I had to shield for most of 2020) I realised I had been coping better than I had thought through my many little achievements. May also goes on to say that winter is a time to read and take in the “scent of old pages and dust”. As an avid book worm this was definitely something, I enjoyed this year as I have read more than I ever had.
“She is bathed in a pearlescent wash of the right light frequencies of light, at the right intensity. A smile eases across her face.”
The structure of Wintering is wonderful for not only being separated into months, but also into coping strategies for dark times. In the chapter titled ‘light’; May talks about SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder. In the chapter May discusses how light can be used to help disorders such as SAD. One of the best coping mechanisms is used by Garnia to help bring light into her home through the use of an alarm clock. This clock imitates the sun rising to wake you up naturally and can stay on as long as you like. My mum bought me one of these many years ago when I struggled to wake up for school and I still use it today. I can honestly say this clock is perfect for the evenings too where you need to be productive and it is dark at 4pm.
“We bob side by side in the grey water, and fall into the pattern that we have already established of joyous, stream-of-consciousness chatter.”
In Whitstable, May starts to go swimming in the sea, something that sparks great joy. Reading this passage, I immediately felt I was with May, looking out to sea, feeling the cold water. I immediately want to get in my car drive across the Dartford bridge and join them. One of the great disadvantages of living inland during a pandemic is that you can’t get to the sea but once it is safe to do so I shall be driving to Whitstable.
I highly recommend this book if you have had a year in which you feel you are in need of some self-care. This book will inspire and calm your mind, reminding you that these dark times will pass and there is no harm in taking the time for yourself.
Request the book here.