5 Reasons I appreciate Cold, Miserable Winters

The month of February had record-setting temperatures and several feet of snow to go along with it. That kind of weather can affect your mood and force you to change your routine. You have no choice but to adapt to the situation. Although this may all sound bleak, I'm a believer that positive things can happen when you have to overcome challenges and struggles. 

Here are 5 reasons why I appreciate cold, miserable winters:

1) It forces me to put my usual birding routines aside and to think outside of the box: Lousy weather is what led me to a recent visit to a Butterfly Conservatory. 

2) Not matter how cold it is, I know that there will be Bald Eagles tending to their nests.

3) It's a great time to appreciate a good book or explore the Internet in more detail: If the weather is nice you won't catch me at home reading a book. If I'm stuck in the house I can read for hours and that includes getting more good information on subjects like birding or camping while daydreaming about nicer days to come. 

4) Taking a little break from birding might be a good thing: I'm not saying that I gave up birding altogether in February but my birding obsession was cooled off a little bit. It's always good to have a little balance in your life but I am definitely building up an appetite to get back into birding full swing once the weather improves.

5) A lousy winter makes you appreciate spring even more:
Even those who believe in counting their blessings can't help but take things for granted once in a while. It's part of human nature. If it was perfect weather 365 days a year I know that I wouldn't appreciate Spring as much as I do after a long, harsh winter.