“If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.”  — American poet Lucy Larcom

Well, after an extended period of warmer weather here, winter has finally graced us with its presence. And it is just in time for the “cold” topic of You Capture this week. I have to admit that I am not a fan of the cold nor do I need traditional seasons. I am a Texas girl and lived in Miami before moving to Germany — so really, I could care less about having distinct changes in the weather to mark certain times of the year.

But although I don’t like the winter much, there sure is a lot of beauty to behold in the midst of it….especially on frosty mornings like we’ve had the last few days.

I’m always thrilled with the results of my Tamron 17-50mm lens — but I actually did try to use my macro lens on these yesterday only to discover I’d forgotten my media cards at home. Doh.

So I guess that will just be on my list for my own collection later — the ice crystals aren’t present this morning because it’s raining. Joy. But they sure have been amazing the last few days.

I’m going to leave you with a quote from Tori Amos that I came across which made me think about how it’s important to make the most of every situation. To really grab the bull by the horns and embrace all the curve balls that life throws at you.

“I usually get myself into situations that cause sparks. I mean I’m a girl that likes the storms. I love feeling alive, I love walking out in the cold in my bare feet and feeling the ice on my toes.”

When’s the last time you went outside in a rain storm to play? Or just let yourself feel alive with the crispness of cold winter air? Have you been putting off making a change to improve your own future just because you’re unsure of the outcome? Change your thinking from “how can I do this” to “how will I make it happen.”