Five things I love about the ‘ber’ months

After the heat of summer and the wet months starting June come the “ber" months of the year, which I think are considered cool in more than one sense. It is a respite from the warmth of tropical summer, and brings on a comfortable atmosphere from the rainy season. There is something undeniably special about the “ber" months and there are a lot of reasons why most people look forward to it. I love this season, and here are some of the things that come to mind whenever September comes around. Cool weather We often think of comfy temperatures during this month. It’s the kind of weather that’s just right for taking a walk outside, like our favorite TV shows where the main characters are in a pensive mood, simply looking at the flowers and admiring the pretty landscape. During the cool months, there is just enough of a breeze to tussle our hair without needing to pick up a comb, cool air that refreshes instead of stinging winds that prick the skin. There is enough cloud cover to block the harsh sun and still illuminate the surroundings. This is almost picture-perfect weather, which a lot of photographers love as the soft light gives a different vibrancy to the landscape. Cozy sleep During nights when a little rain cools the air even more, you’d rather go to bed than do anything else after dinner. Of course, who can resist the temptation to stay in bed under a warm blanket in the cool early mornings? It makes waking up early and not getting late for school or work a struggle but it’s definitely still preferable to summer’s sweltering heat. For an insomniac like me, it is definitely easier to fall asleep in this weather. And when you have a good night’s sleep, it becomes less of a struggle to wake up early each morning because you don’t feel cranky and groggy from lack of sleep. Instead, you feel revitalized and even if you feel lazy, you actually have the energy to face the day. Cool getup The “ber" months give us license to be even more fashionable. This is the time to raid your closet and start putting together pieces for that cozy but cute style, like the ones we see in our favorite Koreanovelas. Layering becomes a fashion statement during this season. With our weather becoming unpredictable, it’s a practical idea and keeps you looking chic, and yes, cool whatever changes you encounter. If it’s cool in the morning, you can put on a scarf over a plain tee and jeans, or even over your office attire. Then, if gets warmer at noon, you can just take off the scarf and tie it around your bag instead. It’s also a great excuse to carry around a stylish jacket that you can easily put on when it gets chilly. Comfort food The cool season is an excuse to indulge in cravings for your favorite comfort food. Whether it’s champorado with lots of milk, creamy sopas, or a bowl of piping hot sinigang, we look to these dishes to warm us up. For those who love to cook, this is a chance to serve up some loving to family and friends. It’s also a time to relearn our cooking skills and to experiment, in preparation for the coming holidays. The holiday spirit The start of September also means that Christmas is just around the corner. It can’t be denied that the thought of Christmas, as well as the sights and sounds of the holiday season, can help lift our moods. And the thought of the Christmas bonus also helps. For children, especially, Christmas lights and decor as well as carols cheer them up like no toy ever could. Like children too, we all look forward to receiving gifts. I find it a fun and exciting adventure to pick gifts for my family and friends. Even if it’s just September, I already look forward to making lists, imagining the parties I will be attending, and of course, planning the noche buena. In the spirit of giving, we also offer ourselves the chance to change for the better and make new commitments to work on our goals for the coming year. And while we go shopping for the perfect gift, we cannot help but feel warm inside and get into a good mood as our favorite Christmas songs surround the air with cheer. In between the heat and the wet season, who wouldn’t love enjoying the cool weather and everything else cool that goes with it? You can even say that the “ber" months is the coolest season of them all. - YA, GMA News