Sit by the fire

How to make winter extra cozy

If you grew up going to summer camp, I’ll bet some of your favorite memories are of gathering around the campfire, singing songs, and roasting marshmallows with your new friends.

There’s likely a deeply-imprinted reason you enjoyed the experience. Our ancestors have been gathering around fires since they figured out fire, which might have been a million years ago. Through all those millennia, people would share stories and sing songs. After a day of exertion and separation, an evening fire brings people together for rest and connection.

We don’t really need fires now, with our HVAC systems, stoves, microwaves, and electric lights, not to mention the multi-tasking television, which creates a flickering light and tells stories.

But since humans do tend to like fires, why not avail yourself of the opportunity to sit by a fire some time this week? If you’re in a place where it’s an option, you can build an outdoor fire. I’m excited about the popularity of outdoor fire pits, which make the process a little more convenient. If you have a fireplace — gas or wood-burning — it’s certainly possible to light that. One of my favorite parts of our multi-year home renovation was putting a gas fireplace in my office. I just hit the remote control and it lights up. Cozy! Even if you don’t have any of that, a few candles on the table can approximate the feeling.

You can also go in search of a fire. One of the Panera restaurants near me has a nice (contained) fireplace that makes a cup of coffee or a cup of soup seem extra special. You might search for restaurants in your area that boast of fire places and make sure to schedule lunch with a friend or a date night there. Suddenly winter doesn’t seem so dreary.

Now, to be sure, I know that fires aren’t always relaxing. I have five kids, and when they were toddlers, being around a fire was not enjoyable at all. I remember one particularly nerve-wracking bonfire at the beach that everyone else loved and I couldn’t wait to leave. As with many things in life, things that are fun for people without toddlers aren’t always fun for people with toddlers. But toddlers do grow up, and when you have a group that’s all school-aged and older, the fire can become magical again. Or you can light the fire after little kid bedtimes and truly feel relaxed. Add in s’mores and you’ll wind up making memories. And maybe get some good stories too.