My bucket list in winter

As winter draws its cloak across the land, my bucket list unfolds like an ancient scroll, beckoning me to venture into a world that’s both familiar and mysterious. There’s something about winter that feels like entering a different dimension—time slows, the air sharpens, and the landscape is transformed into a dreamscape of frost, shadow, and light. Every year, I feel this irresistible pull toward winter’s embrace, like there’s magic hidden in the snowflakes, waiting to be discovered.

First on my list is a journey to the northernmost reaches, to a place where the northern lights dance across the sky like celestial ribbons of fire and ice. I imagine standing on a frozen lake, breath fogging the air, as the sky above explodes in greens, purples, and blues. It’s like watching the universe breathe in slow, vivid motions. The cold bites at my face, but it’s worth it for the chance to witness this cosmic ballet—a reminder that even in the darkest, coldest places, beauty thrives.

The mountains, too, call to me in winter. There’s something almost spiritual about skiing down a powder-covered slope, each turn cutting through the snow like a painter’s brush on a blank canvas. The wind rushes past, crisp and pure, and for a few glorious moments, it feels like flying. Afterward, the warmth of a mountain lodge awaits, where the fire crackles in the hearth, and the scent of pine mingles with hot cider. It’s the perfect balance of adventure and coziness, the way winter can be both exhilarating and comforting at once.

Another experience I long for is winter camping, though it may sound like a contradiction—seeking warmth and solace in the heart of cold. There’s a quiet serenity that comes with pitching a tent in the snow, the world around muffled by thick drifts. Inside, a cocoon of blankets and thermal layers keeps the chill at bay, while outside, the snow-covered trees stand sentinel, silent witnesses to a world asleep beneath a blanket of frost. There’s nothing quite like waking up in the heart of winter’s wilderness, when the dawn light glows soft and pink over a snow-blanketed world.

Ice skating under the stars is another item on my winter list—a simple pleasure that feels like something from a storybook. Gliding across a frozen pond, the stars glittering above, I imagine it as dancing on glass, each movement fluid and free. The world feels still and endless, the crisp night air filling my lungs with a kind of energy that only winter seems to offer. It’s a moment of pure joy, where time stretches out, and everything seems possible.

But not every winter dream is filled with adrenaline or wild landscapes. There’s a quiet magic in simply building a snow fort—block by block, shaping walls of snow into something tangible, something that holds warmth in its heart despite the cold. As a child, I would spend hours crafting these icy castles, and now, as an adult, there’s still a sense of satisfaction in sculpting a space out of snow. It’s a reminder of the simplicity of joy, of how even the coldest elements can be turned into something that brings warmth and happiness.

Finally, the most daring item on my winter bucket list is the idea of plunging into an icy lake, the kind of cold-water dip that shocks the system awake in a way nothing else can. It’s a ritual of renewal—a way of shaking off the old year’s shadows and embracing the new with vigor and determination. The water, freezing and fierce, burns for a moment, but afterward, there’s a glow, a pulse of life that thrums through my veins, reminding me that I’m alive, resilient, and ready for whatever the coming year brings.

Winter, with all its cold and quiet, holds a special place on my bucket list. It’s a season that, beneath its icy surface, is teeming with life and possibility. From the brilliant lights of the Arctic sky to the simple pleasures of skating under stars or building a snow fort, winter offers an endless array of adventures—each one a reminder that even in the frostiest moments, there’s warmth to be found in the pursuit of wonder.