Miss Evie’s Opinion on the Weather (and Mine)

From “Why are we here?” to “We’re getting used to it”—a reflection on seasons, mindset, and walking forward anyway.

Dear You,

Have you ever felt something shifting quietly inside you, but you couldn’t quite name it? And then one morning, without any effort, it just… lands?

When I first left the USA, over a year ago, the cold weather was my biggest challenge. After decades in South Florida, I couldn’t quite remember what it was like to live in a place with true seasons. That first winter was rough.

I’d bundle up and walk Miss Evie at night, imagining her voice under her two layers of fleece saying,
“Why have you brought me here… this is miserable!”

Fast forward to a recent morning in Spring 2025. We were out walking again—and I realized something had changed. I was wearing only three layers. My body (and maybe even my mind) was adjusting. It stopped me in my tracks.

Mindset is everything. The way we view life can change, gently and quietly, without fanfare.

Now, I’m not claiming I’ll ever love needing so many layers I can’t bend my arms. But I’m not where I was 18 months ago—and that, dear you, is the important part.

Not perfection. Just progress.

Still here,
Carolyn