Comments on: Celebrating The Cold

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 14:14:08 +0000

I love the changing of seasons and all that it brings. However, I always look forward to the heat of summer. I feel like I can sit and soak up the sun for hours. My husband believes spring is my worst time with all the rain and it probably is but just when I think I have the weather/RA thing figured out, it changes. Enjoy all that the cool weather brings to you. You are always good at that though – finding the positive in a situation. I look forward to reading about your cool weather adventures.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:26:45 +0000

I wish the cold didn’t bring pain for you, but I’m glad you’re able to find beauty it as well.

I’m one of those people who loves the winter in many ways (I love the changes of seasons and think we appreciate each that much more for the differences that exist between all of them): the brilliance of sun on snow, the deep blue of a winter sky, the clarity of a winter night, the clean feeling of a deep winter breath, the crunch of snow underfoot, the sight of a dog (like Finny!) playing in fresh-fallen snow, the way everything sounds muffled after a snowfall – I could go on and on, but you get the picture!

Have a great Sunday! Laurie

By: TessaD

TessaD — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:44:24 +0000

RA Guy,
Thank you for sharing your stories and all the fun information you have on your site. I come here and read it often. I also have tried different climates and over 35 years with this disease there is no climate that will help long term.. I even tried to fool myself and spent 4 weeks in West Florida in March to see if it would make a difference. Even though the weather there was wonderful compared to South Jersey I was kidding myself.

Keep up the great work and there are some of us at Bucklemeupmovement: Now known as = (IAAM) International AutoIummune Arthritis Movement will be in touch to ensure we can link to your website globally for this new NonProfit organization that centers around finding resources globally for our diseases.

Again thank you for a great site I love your 60 Seconds Guide to RA I refer to it many may times in my support group that I run and support boards…

By: RA Guy

RA Guy — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:05:21 +0000

Thank Wren, both your blog and your comments are a continued source of inspiration. As I saw all of your winter photos during the past few months, they reminded me that I needed to start changing my attitude towards the winter months. Now if I could only get a wood stove (I think?) like yours!

By: Wren

Wren — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:02:16 +0000

I’ve lived in a damp, cold climate; a warm, sunny climate, and now, at about 3,200 feet in the mountains, where summers are pretty warm and dry, and winters pretty cold, wet and sometimes, snowy. And in all the years I’ve had RA, the climate itself made no difference at all to my symptoms. I’ve been in mild, moderate or severe pain in all of them, and I find that shifts in barometric pressure cause worse symptoms than temperature or humidity.

While I have to admit I’m looking forward to warmer weather (this winter has actually been WINTER for the first time in several years) I don’t mind it when it’s cold. Like you, I enjoy the warmth of a wood fire, I know how to layer my clothes and I totally enjoy wrapping my achy hands around a cup of hot coffee, tea or cocoa. And I love the smell of rain and the beauty of snow.

In the end, I think it’s all a matter of attitude, RA Guy. Yours will get through the cold months, just as mine will get me through the really hot months (which I don’t much like; I’d rather warm up than try without much luck cooling down). Life is full of wonder and beauty whatever the season. Enjoy your aerie and know that no matter what, the next change in season is just a few months away.