Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

WINTER IS COMING

Seasonal Shifts, Idioms, and the Art of Getting It Right

Winter brings more than cold, it brings reflection, adaptation, and a few curious turns of phrase. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores seasonal transitions, emotional preparation, and the quirky idioms that shape how we talk about change.

If you are a TV buff, you will immediately think of Game of Thrones as this was the title of the premiere show. However, that is not my reference, and no blood will be shed.

I am still thinking about how awful this past summer was, with little to no rain and heat that scorched your skin the moment you stepped outside. Then the fall has been luscious with just the right amount of cool and rain to nurture the plants and have us outside constantly. Wonderful!

But this weather will not last. Winter is coming. This is the time when the sun seems to disappear. If you need that sunshine to nurture your brain and create positive feelings, you will likely head to the hardware store to buy full-spectrum light bulbs for every lamp in the house, all in an effort to maintain your sanity during this low-light time of the year.

The morning walks with or without the dog will suddenly become treacherous with unseen patches of ice on the blacktop, and the evening will fade all too quickly as the sun sets earlier and earlier. Of course, you can comfort yourself with a warm fire. We still have a real fireplace, and the smell of the wood and the warmth of the flames are delightful in the evening. There have been times when we have been genuinely grateful for this wood burner, such as the week that Pepco struggled to restore power to the house after an ice storm.

Ice storm. The thought of it brings spooky chills. Of course, there are those neighbors who look forward to winter and love to “hit the slopes.” That is such a funny phrase. What is its origin? Of course, this is an idiom, as no one actually goes out to hit the snow or the mountains covered with the stuff. But why “hit”? In fact, if you hit it hard enough, you could cause an avalanche, and that would not be good. Even AI cannot fully explain it. The effort is to clarify how skis or snowboards make contact with the snow. Give me a break. A toddler could have come up with that explanation. So, from now on, I refuse to “hit” the slopes.

Now, “hit the road” is different. This idiom comes from the sound of horses’ hooves hitting the road in a “clop, clop” sound. That one makes sense.

Now we are on a roll. What about “hit the trail”? That one seems to mean to head out on a journey. Or what about “hit the nail on the head”? This means to get something exactly right! With this idiom, we are describing getting something exactly right.

I hope you are ready to get winter exactly right!

Want to explore how seasonal changes affect mood and mental health? Visit Psychology Today’s guide to Seasonal Affective Disorder and NIMH’s overview of winter-related mood shifts.

If you’re preparing for emotional shifts or seasonal transitions, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support resilience, warmth, and emotional clarity.