Walking In A Winter Wonderland
“Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland”
Winter Wonderland was written 83 years ago and since then has been recorded by a mind-boggling range of artists: Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day to Elvis, Dolly Parton to Billy Idol. If a singer has released a Christmas album, you can bet Winter Wonderland is on it. My favorite version is on James Taylor’s 2004 release, James Taylor: A Christmas Album.
Winter Wonderland is a song that makes me recall the delight I felt as a child when, during the holidays, we’d hear a knock on the door and to our great joy, find a group of Christmas carolers on the porch. How magical, how wonderful, how life-affirming!
So this holiday season, I invite you to take part in the magic by walking in your own winter wonderland, whether it’s on the sugar white beaches of sunny South Florida or in the frozen bitter cold of northern Minnesota. Here’s two wonderful ways to get your walk on in the coming weeks!
- Caroling! Seriously if you’ve never done it, I can’t recommend it enough! It takes a fair amount of advance planning to organize your own group so I suggest you join an existing group to learn the ropes. Local churches, Meetup, and local singing groups are the three best places to jump on board.
- A Holiday Lights Walk! Take your family for a walk to look at the holiday lights and decoration. This will quickly become a favorite tradition. If you live in a walking friendly neighborhood, dress for the weather and walk out the door. Invite friends and neighbors to walk with you! If your neighborhood isn’t walking friendly, check to see if your downtown storefronts decorate with holiday light displays. A cup of holiday cheer and a stroll around downtown with your loved ones can be wonderfully fun and entertaining.
This year take the time to walk in the winter wonderland that’s most convenient for you. Make the time, take those you love, get your walk on, and make some memories. Those memories will be the best gifts ever–ones you’ll relive and repeat for years to come.