11 ways to put a little whimsy in your winter

Yes it's dark and cold. But life doesn't need to be gloomy!

January can seem eternal. The holidays are over, but the cold isn’t going anywhere. The sun is setting later, but not much later. In my part of the world it’s still pitch black before 5:30 p.m.

So it’s easy to give in to the gloom. But I tend to think that joy, or even modest bemusement, is largely a choice. Here are several ways to add a dose of whimsy to a winter schedule. It’s time to lighten up!