As I write this, it’s warmer to sit in my refrigerator than it would be for me to stand outside. That’s winter in Wisconsin for you! You’d think that after 50 years of living here, I’d be used to subzero temperatures, but it still takes my breath away. No matter how much you prepare for this season, the cold sure does sneak up on you.
This time of year is an incredible reminder of just how much love has to do with many things in my life. Between my towing and truck repair business and my home life, these winter chills are truly a testament to how much I love what I do and the people in my life. Because when that bitter cold is part of your work or doing important things with and for people you care about, it’s love that drives you past the chill and keeps you going.
Love and Your Work
You probably know by now that I own a towing and recovery business that also does truck repair. February is historically the busiest month of the entire year. Wisconsin’s snowy roads and icy temperatures set the scene for so many accidents, wrecks, and vehicle issues, and my business is running on all cylinders at this time of year.
Let me tell you, you have to love what you’re doing to be out on the roads in this weather. The guys (and gals!) on my team are amazing – even if they’re a little bit crabby right now!
There’s no way I could do what they do, out in the cold, day in and day out. I know that the extreme cold we have is for just a brief moment in the year, but I don’t think I’d be able to do it.
So, I am sending out some mega props to all the people who choose to put themselves out there on the roads, in our streets, and around our communities at this time of year. The first responders, towing and recovery professionals, roadside service technicians, garbage truck operators, and snowplow drivers are my heroes.
I don’t think many people realize how many pros are out there, working in these conditions, to make life better for us all. They take pride in their jobs, and at the end of the day, love is what drives them to do what they do.
As for me, even though I’m indoors at the office, dispatching and doing all the other things that come with being in business at this time of year, I’ll go days without getting sleep. (I’m going on five right now!) But I love this job, so getting an hour of sleep at a time because the phone doesn’t stop ringing is okay for me right now. Going on so little sleep is hard, but it’s worth it because this work satisfies me, fulfills me, and I honestly just love doing it.
Things You Do For Your Family
When my kids were younger, I remember voluntarily going outside in the cold to build snowmen with them and pull them around in sleds. I would think, “I love my kids, and I want them to have the best experiences ever.” So I bundled up and went out there to make memories with them. I braved the cold because I love them.
When they got older and were big enough to head out on their own, um, YEA, I stayed inside. Then, I loved being the mom who had hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows waiting for them when they came back inside.
I’m pretty sure that both my kids would confirm that, in those years, mom would be waving at them from the window instead of throwing snowballs with them! But when they were small, and it mattered, I was right there in the cold with them. We do things that we might not necessarily want to out of love for the people we love the most.
And now? I’m helping take care of my mom. She hurt her foot this fall and has been off it since Thanksgiving. I don’t exactly enjoy heading out in these temperatures to run errands, get the things she needs, or freeze as I take her to appointments, but I do it. No questions asked. I love her, and even though there are many times I’d rather stay huddled by my fire, my love for her has me throwing on my coat, heating my car, and doing what she needs.
Let Love Guide You
So, what’s love got to do with it? It’s got a hell of a lot to do with it! Even in the FREEZING cold, love takes us where we need to be, motivates us to traverse the paths we want in life, and gives us such joy, comfort, and blessings. Let love guide you. Just don’t let it blind you, okay? Control your emotions, think clearly, keep an open mind, and hold strong to who you are.
Live your best life,
Michelle