Winter is officially upon us here in the Finger Lakes and with that often brings mixed emotions. For children, that often means fantasizing over that first epic snowball fight with your siblings or anticipation of school cancellation on those icy mornings. Looking back fondly on my childhood, I remember so many wintery nights going to bed with my pajamas inside out or putting my lucky rabbit foot under my pillow in hopes for a snow day the next morning- how silly! But as an adult, the wonder and magic of winter somehow fade as we as a culture embrace the “winter blues.” We grow to resent that first flake of snow that flies in the sky and grumble for the next several months impatiently for spring to reappear. But I can’t help but think, aren’t we wasting precious God-given time? Can we reset our mindset about winter and embrace what it has to offer?
No one can doubt the beauty of the Finger Lakes in the warmer months with its breathtaking scenery and stunning views. With that comes the highly anticipated hustle and bustle of tourist season, many months of long workdays and blood, sweat and tears among every business owner in the region. And while winter puts financial strain on many regional businesses without our valuable tourists, it also brings about time to catch our breath, plan for the upcoming busy season and get back to our roots. It provides us with the opportunity to connect with our local community, pour into our tried-and-true loyal everyday customers and employees, family and friends. These tight-knit relationships with our neighbors, fellow church members, local businesses, etc. are the cornerstone of our communities here in the Finger Lakes, the heart and soul of the work we do here. And where would we be without these intimate connections?
Speaking of connections, one of our favorite pastimes of winter is hosting. My husband and love opening our home to family and friends for fellowship and breaking bread. It’s always a joy to see the house filled with loved ones on a wintery day surrounded by healthy food and heartfelt conversation that warms the body and soul. Maybe you’re thinking cooking isn’t your love language. Perhaps instead host a boardgame night with your favorite snacks or schedule a movie marathon with friends and family. There is no right or wrong way to connect so find what works best for you.
Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” Often these meaningful connections provide space to pour into the hearts and minds of those around you and leave a lasting impact. Together as a community this winter, let’s commit to connecting with one another!
All God’s Many Blessings,
Gerald and Emilie Zimmerman, owners of Dutch Kuntry
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
