We’ve all seen the memes about Queensland winters. One of my favourites is, “I absolutely love winter in Queensland; last year it was a Wednesday.”
Last Tuesday morning we enjoyed a minimum of 16℃ which, to me, signified the onset of autumn more than the arbitrary date of 1 March. Unfortunately, the low temperature came on the first day back at school after a long weekend so there was no snuggling under the covers to enjoy sleeping in.
However, I came across three weird ways to warm up in autumn that you may not have thought of so, in the absence of more doona covers, here they are:
Indulge in nostalgia
This one really surprised me but there have been extensive studies done that show feelings of nostalgia were more common on cold days and people who nostalgised warmed up more than those who didn’t!
In the lead up to our 2022 Open Day, we have been posting photos of previous Open Days for “Wayback Wednesday” and many of the comments were from people enjoying being nostalgic and reliving fun memories. None of the comments said they were warmer after looking at the photos but next time you see them, let us know in a comment if you felt warmer afterwards!
Wear marigolds over your gloves
This way to warm up is even weirder than the first which is why it makes the list. When I first read it, I was trying to work out how to stick marigold flowers over your gloves. It turns out that “marigolds” is the common term for rubber gloves in many countries. If you have wet cold winters, then wearing rubber gloves over cotton or wool ones is guaranteed to keep your hands warm. Our Queensland winters are usually beautifully dry and sunny so you can probably ignore this tip but I had to mention it because it sounded so weird.
Don’t wear tight shoes
This is a good one to remember if your children complain about cold feet in the cooler weather. Putting thicker socks on or wearing an extra pair can make your children’s shoes tight and this could hinder the proper circulation of blood in their feet resulting in them actually becoming colder! Check there is plenty of room in their shoes before adding an extra layer of socks.
Two “non-weird” ways to warm up this autumn
1. New Middle School Jacket
This is a really good way to warm up but just for our Middle School students at this stage. In Uniform Shop News a couple of weeks ago, Uniform Shop Coordinator Krystyna Scurr announced the option of a new jacket for Middle School students. The jackets are smart, fleecy lined and were a huge hit with the students who tried them out. The jackets are ready to be tried on and parents can pre-order them now. If you would like to find out more, you can watch the YouTube video or drop into the Uniform Shop during opening hours.
2. Give your mum a hug
This week we celebrated our annual Mother’s Day chapel for the first time since the onset of COVID-19. It was a beautiful service and cuteness overload reached its peak when the Prep classes sang “Hugs and Kisses” to their mums. There were also lots of lovely hugs before the service as we enjoyed afternoon tea on the lawn.
GCC families can see all the photos on Pixevety HERE and the live stream of the service below:
Hugs have been actively discouraged in many circumstances over the last two years but it’s always good to give your mum a hug (unless she or you are unwell at the time).
Family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” An article on Healthline says that a big hug literally makes us feel warm inside and the feeling of warmth can last long after the actual hug. So, this Mother’s Day give your mum the biggest hug possible and then repeat it 12 times so she has a lovely day, grows as a person and you both warm up!
For those of you who will find this Mother’s Day difficult for whatever reason, please be kind to yourself and look for opportunities for hugs from others. It is a very emotional time for many people and you are not alone. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May these words comfort you this Mother’s Day.
Mike Curtis, Principal