The New Year’s Day hike on Monadnock was the last time I got away for a hike, as opposed to walking in nearby parks.

Whine.

January and February have been filled with long hours of work and stress and lousy weather.

Whine.

My clothes are too snug, I’m out of breath after three flights of stairs, and I hate icy roads.

Whine, whine, whine.

When the weather was “nice” the other day (and please, no scolding me for being unprepared for all conditions), I forced myself to shake off my winter torpor for little while.

The cove at Mine Falls Park, awaiting the springtime return of the swans. Nashua Millyard in background.

Hard to believe what a difference that made. After a couple of miles in a favorite park, my jeans were still too snug and I still had a pile of work waiting for me. But gradually, as I walked along the canal path in crunchy snow, the whines went away. Not permanently, for sure – for all its beauty, winter is not my favorite season – but fresh air and near-silence worked wonders.

I’ll still need a push to get out the door this season, but I’ll have this post to remind me it’s worth the effort.