I love the months of December, January, February, and March. I also love November—if it’s somewhere truly cold, like Maine or Canada, or up in the far reaches of Europe around the Baltics, Caucasus, or anywhere with a spirit like the Balkans. Cold air calms my head. It soothes my nerves, and—more importantly—it makes my brain work better. My cheeks turn redder, my face looks lively again, flushed as if I’ve put on makeup; the pale of my skin fills with colour.

I don’t like summer here. I don’t like spring or autumn either. My face gets puffy. I gain weight. You have no idea how hard it was to bring my weight down. Feeling agile in warm weather is almost impossible for me. I get dizzy constantly, my vision goes off, and all I want is to put ice on my head and sleep.

Sea water is good—sure—but we’re not very close to it. I like cold water. Places like Baja California, San Diego, or Hawaii make sense to me only if you go for a week or two every couple of months: swim, cleanse your body in the sea, refresh your skin, enjoy the sun, eat well—and then return home to a cool climate.

We haven’t been to Peru yet, so I don’t know what it’s like. Maybe it’s wonderfully cool. It doesn’t matter that it’s on the equator. What matters is good sun—and cold air.

Another joy of living in cold places like New England, the UK, Argentina, the Baltics, or Canada’s East and West Coasts is that you can actually see the seasons change. And more importantly, you can spend much longer walking outside in nothing more than a light shirt and thin trousers.

The ponds freeze over. River water turns wild at first, then grows quieter, because everything freezes. Sparrows sing less—but still, once or twice a day, they do sing. Everything goes silent. And the mind finally settles.

I’m not a heat person. I like warmth only for romantic trips or work travel. I’ve just started going out in minus five degrees Celsius wearing a T-shirt and light trousers. Yes, it’s cold—but it’s delicious. Afterwards I come home, take a hot shower, put on some cream, and everything is fine.

Even my husband is starting to like cold weather. He says it keeps his brain more alert. Maybe it’s time, in a while, to move north again. Somewhere cosy and lovely in New England. Or further north in California. And then travel—to warm places and cold places around the world.

It’s fun, isn’t it?!

I’m genuinely happy to have made it this far. I can hardly believe I survived—hardly believe I lived long enough to see myself after thirty.

Your thirties are that rare stretch of life where you still have youth and energy, but you also have experience—and wisdom. And when all of those come together, it’s only natural that life feels more beautiful.

Most importantly, in your thirties, the older you get, the fewer wrong crowds you attract. And that, too, is one of its quiet, underrated beauties.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

A famous quote by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.

Found this on a tissue box we purchased a while ago.

Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chips wrapper.

I love thunder and lightning, both.

There is a certain type of peace in all that chaos.

The flashes of light, and the voice of the nature in a matter of seconds, it awes me.

To me, it looks like something is flying all over skies, making sure every bit of the universe (our universe, the tiny planet we have here) has received enough care and attention. At some point, all ends with a rain. And then, there is a rainbow.

And life starts, again.

In the end, it’s the woman who chooses. If you were rejected by her, don’t be disappointed. You were not the first man whose offer was declined, and you won’t be the last one.

But don’t be immature. Don’t gossip that you were the one who turned her away. Modern, civilized societies will realize you’re a weak man who couldn’t take a no. Don’t be small, and a sore loser.

Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is this person mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspective?

If not, there is no point to argue.

Crews are arguing over something. I know, because I hear them rattling.

Birds are chirping.

The wind is whistling.

Weather is no cold, neither hot.

Autumn is here.

“I have a test for movies I call the Atomic Bomb test. After I’ve watched about 20 minutes of the film I ask myself, “If an atomic bomb were to go off and destroy everyone in this film, would I care all that much?” If the answer is no, I don’t keep watching the film.”

Robert Prince, from Alaska.

The fact that I wake up every day, and I don’t have to think of any exams, grading, receiving grades, or evaluating someone, makes me smile deeply. I am so glad that era is over.

People who take more exams, or give more exams, die faster, and earlier.