I’ve noticed something
about the cold.
It feels colder when you oppose it.
Those shivers
aren’t the cold, they’re you.
You’re not
going to end up
a frozen cadaver
near the summit
of the Mount Everest
gift shop.
And, besides, it’s 62º in here.
Put another log in the damn fireplace.
Nope, the cold
isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
It’s just you, cracking up.
Trail Wood,
11/9
Space Monkey Reflects: The Cold and Our Resistance
There’s something curious about the cold, isn’t there? It seems to get colder the more we resist it, the more we shiver and fight against its chill. But as Space Monkey points out, the cold isn’t the enemy—it’s often our own reaction to it that makes it feel worse. When we oppose the cold, when we brace ourselves against it, we experience it more intensely. The cold, like many things in life, is only as powerful as the resistance we offer.
The Shiver Isn’t the Cold—It’s You
The body’s natural response to cold is to shiver. It’s a primal reaction designed to keep us warm by generating heat. But the shiver itself isn’t the cold—it’s us. It’s the body’s way of responding, of coping, of saying, “Hey, I’m feeling this.” And that’s fine. But what if we didn’t resist the cold? What if, instead of tensing up, we relaxed into it? Would it feel as cold?
Space Monkey laughs at the idea that we often create more discomfort for ourselves by trying to avoid discomfort. The shiver is not just a response to the external temperature but a reflection of our internal state. When we tense up, brace ourselves, and tell ourselves, “I’m so cold,” we amplify the sensation. But when we relax, when we stop resisting, we begin to notice that the cold is not so bad after all.
The Cold Isn’t Going to Freeze You Solid
Unless you’re actually stranded on Mount Everest, the cold you experience on an ordinary day—especially in a warm room at 62 degrees—isn’t going to harm you. But the mind, when it fixates on discomfort, tends to exaggerate. You might imagine yourself freezing, turning into a block of ice, or becoming a frozen cadaver near the summit of some whimsical Mount Everest gift shop. But Space Monkey knows better. The cold isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you’re sitting comfortably by a fireplace.
In this cozy room, the reality is simple: the cold is a sensation, not a threat. You aren’t going to freeze. You’re just feeling it. And feeling is something we can adjust to, something we can move through without letting it consume us.
The Cold as a Metaphor for Life’s Discomforts
Space Monkey doesn’t just talk about literal cold. The cold we feel is a metaphor for all the discomforts we face in life—the challenges, the frustrations, the moments of unease. When we resist these moments, when we tense up and fight against them, they grow bigger in our minds. The discomfort becomes more than just a passing feeling—it becomes a source of suffering.
But what if, like with the cold, we learned to relax into these moments? What if we stopped bracing ourselves for the worst and simply allowed the experience to be? The discomfort wouldn’t vanish, but it would lose its power over us. We would stop “cracking up” in the face of life’s inevitable chills and instead find warmth in our own acceptance.
Put Another Log on the Fire
When the cold creeps in, what’s the solution? Space Monkey offers a simple one: put another log on the fire. It’s a reminder that while we don’t need to resist the cold, we can still take steps to make ourselves more comfortable. We don’t have to suffer unnecessarily. If the room feels chilly, there’s no harm in adding warmth. But there’s no need to fear the cold or let it overwhelm us.
In life, this translates to taking care of ourselves without overreacting to discomfort. When things feel tough, when the cold winds of life blow, we can add a little warmth—a kind gesture, a moment of rest, or a shift in perspective. But we don’t have to panic. The cold isn’t here to freeze us solid—it’s just a passing sensation.
The Cold Is Just You, Cracking Up
In the end, the cold isn’t what’s cracking you—it’s your own mind, your own resistance, your own reaction. Space Monkey invites you to stop fighting the cold, to stop fearing the discomfort, and to simply observe it. When you do, you’ll find that the cold isn’t so bad after all. It’s just a sensation, just a part of life, and like all things, it will pass.
Summary
The cold, like life’s discomforts, feels worse when we resist it. Space Monkey reminds us that shivering and opposition only amplify the sensation. By relaxing into the cold and embracing it for what it is, we can find warmth within ourselves. Discomfort is a passing sensation, not a threat, and we are free to add warmth without overreacting to life’s chilly moments.
Glossarium
- Cold Resistance: The act of bracing against discomfort, which amplifies the sensation of cold or any challenging experience.
- Shiver Reflection: The idea that shivering is not the cold itself, but our response to it, symbolizing how we react to discomfort.
- Everest Mindset: The exaggerated fear that discomfort will lead to extreme outcomes, such as imagining oneself freezing solid.
Quote
“The cold isn’t what cracks you—it’s your own resistance. Put another log on the fire, and let it pass.” — Space Monkey
Cracking in the Cold
Shivering in the warmth
A chill that comes from within
I brace, I fight, but why?
The cold isn’t so bad
It’s me, cracking up
In the struggle, in the tension
Let the cold in
It won’t freeze me solid
I’ll sit by the fire
And put another log on
We are Space Monkey
In the chill of perception, the cold reveals itself not merely as a physical sensation but as a canvas upon which we paint our inner narratives. The experience of cold, much like the unfolding of life’s myriad events, is as much about our reaction to it as it is about its objective reality.
The Cold as a Reflection of Self
The sensation of coldness becomes a mirror reflecting our inner state. The shivers, often perceived as an involuntary response to the external cold, are in truth an interplay between our physical and psychological selves. It’s not the cold that intensifies our discomfort but our resistance to it, our opposition that fuels the feeling of cold.
Perception Shaping Reality
The narrative around the cold is as much a creation of our minds as it is a response to the environment. Our mental state, our fears, and our expectations shape our experience of the cold. The dread of becoming “a frozen cadaver near the summit of the Mount Everest gift shop” is a vivid imagery, painting the cold as a formidable adversary, when in reality, we are ensconced in a relatively cozy 62º environment.
The Role of Action
The suggestion to “put another log in the damn fireplace” is a call to action, a reminder that we possess the power to alter our circumstances. It’s a metaphor for taking control, for transforming our environment and, by extension, our experience of it. It signifies the power we hold over our perception, the ability to change the narrative.
The Illusion of the Cold
The cold, in its essence, is not an entity with a vendetta against us. It’s a natural phenomenon, devoid of intent or malice. Our characterization of the cold as something menacing is a testament to our propensity to imbue nature with our own emotions and fears.
The Breaking of Illusions
The realization that “it’s just you, cracking up” is a moment of awakening, a recognition of the mind’s role in shaping our experiences. It’s an invitation to view the cold, and by extension, life’s challenges, not as external forces bent on our discomfort, but as opportunities for introspection and growth.
We are Space Monkey.
“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” – John Milton
In the heart of winter’s embrace,
We find a lesson, a gentle grace,
The cold, a teacher, silent and true,
In its icy breath, a clue.
It’s not the frost that bites our skin,
But our thoughts, swirling within,
A dance of mind, in the winter’s night,
In the cold, we find our light.
The shiver, a whisper, from soul to spine,
A reminder, we are divine,
In our resistance, the cold grows deep,
In acceptance, warmth we reap.
We are Space Monkey, in our quest,
To understand life, in its test,
In the cold’s embrace, we find our zest,
In nature’s arms, our spirits rest.
We invite musings on this contemplation of the cold, not as an adversary, but as a mirror of our inner world.
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