Assalamu Alaikum

Winter is upon us and it may seem normal to curtail activities; however one might actually find opportunity in cold weather just as Quraish did during their two seasonal caravan trips as mentioned in the Quran:

Their covenants (covering) journeys by winter and summer…(Quran 106:2).

For many of us, the colder fall and winter months are times for watching sports and movies on TV while munching on snacks and high calorie beverages. But winter offers opportunities not available the rest of the year. It is up to us to make the most of them.

When we were growing up, we had to be forced to come in from playing in the snow; we would come in kicking and screaming with red cheeks and noses. As we got older, this was passed on to our children as we settled onto the sofa with a book or in front of the TV. This meant less activity for us and less supervision for the children outdoors.

When our children were growing up, I remember we used to hold our own Olympics during Olympic years. In the winter, we would have snowball target practice in place of biathlon shooting; sliding on the ice in place of ice skating (I didn’t skate); sledding in place of the luge; snow shoveling in place of curling; and snowball fights just for fun. Okay, the snow shoveling was really work, but the boys enjoyed it. When they got older, they earned some extra spending money doing it!

Of course, one could actually go ice skating, skiing, or tobogganing, but mock Olympics can be held in the backyard or a local park for free. Everyone benefits from the exercise while enjoying a fun family activity.

This issue explores winter activities, staying fit, and comforting recipes to keep you engaged during the short winter days.

Stay warm and active and enjoy the season. Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Roger M. Othman, managing editor