Winter in the Northern Hemisphere officially starts at the winter solstice on Dec. 21 or 22 this year, depending on the time zone. For those of us who live in this part of the world, even as the weather gets colder we can look forward to the days getting longer, the nights getting shorter, as well as the beauty and fun of the winter season.
In celebration of the December solstice 2015, here are some wise idioms and sayings from traditional Chinese culture that will warm your heart.
“As lovely as the winter sun,” is the refrain of one Chinese idiom. It is used to describe those with a manner so kind and gentle that it makes others want to approach them and be close to them. They are like the sun that shines in a winter sky, which brings people the type of warm feeling one has when in the company of someone close and dear.
“In the cold of winter, embrace/cherish ice; in the heat of summer, grasp/master fire,” another Chinese saying goes. When we meet with difficulties, hardship, or failure in life, we may start to feel blue. If this happens, remembering this saying can help us feel encouraged and firm up our resolve. We may then be better able to find the inner strength and tap into resources available to us that will let us overcome our tribulation.
