The other day, I was reading the 1978 commencement speech that Kurt Vonnegut gave at Fredonia College in New York.
In addition to great advice on how to make money, win love and treat your ears, Vonnegut offers a gentle suggestion for a perspective change regarding the seasons:
“One sort of optional thing you might do is to realize that there are six seasons instead of four.
The poetry of four seasons is all wrong for this part of the planet, and this may explain why we are so depressed so much of the time. I mean, spring doesn’t feel like spring a lot of the time, and November is all wrong for autumn, and so on.
Here is the truth about the seasons: Spring is May and June.
What could be springier than May and June?
Summer is July and August. Really hot, right?
Autumn is September and October. See the pumpkins? Smell those burning leaves?
Next comes the season called Locking. November and December aren’t winter. They’re Locking.
Next comes winter, January and February. Boy! Are they ever cold!
What comes next? Not spring. ‘Unlocking’ comes next. What else could cruel March and only slightly less cruel April be?
March and April are not spring. They’re Unlocking.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
Vonnegut’s words resonated deeply and felt so true for my part of the world, as well as with my current state of mind, which feels a little…well, “stuck” to say the least.
In addition to Vonnegut’s words from the past, last week also brought me Jason Kottke’s thoughts, which offered a clear and hopeful advice in the secret to enjoying a long winter.
I will aim to combine these voices from past and present and will try to consciously work towards enjoying instead of enduring.
For now, let’s stop the waiting and start the day- with this little gem by Future Islands:
Photograph of the Winter Lofoten by Sergey Lukankin
xez
p.s: You can read Vonnegut’s wonderful Fredonia speech in its entirety here.
A collection of nine of his best commencement addresses , along with personal drawings and thought are combined in If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?: Advice to the Young.