I live in Canada, a country often referred to as the “Great White North.” I was born and raised here, and while I’m not exactly a fan of the cold, I can handle the snow.
Do I love winter? No.
Do I survive it every year? Also no… I endure it.
That said, I’ve come to a realization over time.
I think I would rather deal with a good old-fashioned snowstorm and freezing temperatures than some of the weather other parts of the world experience.
You know the ones I mean. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Monsoons. Extreme, relentless heat. The kind of weather that makes you question all your life choices in a matter of minutes. Now, I’m not saying we don’t get the occasional tornado, earthquake, or heatwave… but they’re few and far between, and usually not devastating.
Where I live, we can go from 40 below Celsius in the winter (and that’s before wind chill decides to join the party), to over 40 above in the summer.
For those not on the metric system, that’s roughly -40 to 104 Fahrenheit.
A 144-degree temperature swing.
Yes, I hear it now… “That’s extreme.”
And you’re not wrong.
But here’s the thing.
Our extremes tend to be… predictable. Seasonal. You know winter is coming, and it will be cold. You know summer will show up eventually and try to make up for it.
There’s a certain rhythm to it.
What we don’t typically deal with are sudden, destructive events that give you minutes to react. I don’t have to outrun a tornado, brace for a hurricane, or worry that the ground beneath me might suddenly decide to shift.
And honestly? I’ll take that trade.
I’d much rather stay home during a snowstorm, wrapped in a blanket, questioning my decision to live here, than be boarding up windows or running for cover.
I suppose we all get used to whatever climate we grow up in. It becomes normal, even when it’s not exactly pleasant.
But when I look at the alternatives, I think I’ll stick with my version of “extreme.”
Cold hands, multiple layers, and a healthy respect for winter… I can manage that.
Trying to outrun a tornado?
Not so much.
And, as Tigger would say, “TTFN, Ta, ta for now!”