Growing up, I loved playing in the snow, but other than that, I was too ignorant to love or hate seasons at all. As I got into school, my feelings towards winter soured, like many kids from the northern US. Long, bitter cold becomes tiresome, and running outside in the near-zero temperatures is brutal. But in the past few years, I have taken a serious liking towards the winter season overall.

Going up to college in Michigan means it is a bit colder than in Indiana where I grew up, but it's fairly similar. When college began, my attitude towards winter was still the same, but it quickly changed. Before my sophomore year, I decided to start watching NHL hockey hardcore for the first time in my life. As you probably know, hockey is played in the winter months. I quickly knew as I started to watch more hockey that I would appreciate the least liked season.

The past few summers have become more and more annoying to me. Working inside for the most part in air conditioning is quite nice, so stepping out of an office into mother nature is awful. On the hottest days, being outside feels like being in a furnace, it is awful. Unlike most, my attitudes towards summer shifted in a negative direction, giving room for another season to rise in enjoyment.

Winter is great because of the cold air that energizes your lungs, which gives a mystic aura in the natural environment. Breathing in the cold air feels good to me, contrary to most. Winter, at its best, is so pretty, with the white snow that gives off the vibe from the scenery in a movie. It's incredible when there is constant snow, the crystals showing how incredible nature really is. And like I said earlier, winter is great for activities like snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating.

I haven't snowboarded in years, but it is such a fun activity and challenge for people of all ages. The energy high you get from shredding down a hillslope is great. I have picked up ice skating in the past few years, and skating on an outdoor rink is also incredible. Like snowboarding, I see ice skating as a great challenge and it is fun to do with your friends during the colder months. I just skated outdoors yesterday and it felt awesome, even with a bit of wind that made it colder.

Yes, there are some things that I still don't like about winter, such as the slush on the roads and the poor driving conditions, but there are so many great things about the season. Whether it be the holidays, the cool air that fills up your lungs, or the activities that you can do during this time, winter has to be the best. It seems to incentivize people to spend time with one another, which is another major plus. While winter will never be the favorite time for most, I think there's plenty of positives that have helped me begin to love winter.