This time of year, the dread of another Grand Forks winter begins to fill the air. Going into my senior year at UND, I have begun to develop a pet peeve about these winters. It’s not necessarily about the winters themselves, but about the general attitude that seems to arise with them.

I could be living in any place I want to. I could be living in the warmth by the beach, or somewhere that has mountains, but instead I am walking to class with a bomber hat, facemask and ski goggles to combat the wind chill that brings the temperature to 20 degrees below zero. But I’m not even mad about it. As I take my winter gear off to go inside for my first class, I hold the door open for the poor, hunched and shivering girl with no hat and gloveless hands up inside of her sleeves. She thanks me and gives me a look as if I am the weird one for the extra layers. As I walk inside, I overhear two students loudly talking.

“I hate it so much here,” one says. “I can’t stand another day of the cold.”

My first thought is that’s a completely reasonable thing for somebody to think. After all, on some days it really does get colder here than the North Pole. However, after a few weeks of hearing that same line from people on a daily basis, it gets old, and for a number of reasons.

For one thing, most of the people complaining about it — and I realize this doesn’t account for everybody — aren’t being forced to live in this town. Second, complaining doesn’t change the weather. The cold weather is nothing new for most of us. And third, continually boasting negativity about the place you live doesn’t do anything to help you improve as a person. So, maybe it would be helpful to try embracing the cold. After all, it takes a special breed of person with some extra character to pull it off.

Another thing I hear all too much is how “ boring” it is to live in Grand Forks. Is this town boring? Or are you being boring? Along with the cold weather, hearing the words “there is nothing to do here” is just as common weather-whining. But it might even be worse. I think most people are well aware of the many free hockey rinks around town, the theaters that put on regular productions or the Greenway as a way to get some much needed recreation or exercise. It’s easy to be pulled down by the winter blues, but it’s just as easy to beat them with a little creativity. But, with that said, being active during the winter doesn’t necessarily require much creativity. It just takes motivation that lies beyond a New Year’s Resolution.

So, my proposal is to try to embrace discomfort. Whether it’s finding the beauty in the cold, or trying something new that this town has to offer — you’ll find it if you look — the more you are able to expand your comfort zone, the more satisfaction and, perhaps, pride you’ll likely find, even in a town like Grand Forks.

Matt Cole

UND senior