Wishful Winter, Please Be Good to Me

Dominique Macias, Editor in Chief

December 12, 2025

Between you & me, it keeps playing over again in my head that this winter will mean a familiar door is permanently closing. Some days I wake up, feeling rejuvenated by counting the days to life post college, and other days I think: if only I had a crystal ball to predict this long-winded winter. I would use it only for good. But instead, I have my daily dose juggling and mixing the angst and anxiety of this newfound winter—a life patiently stationed around every corner.

How does it know me better than I know it? We hardly met.

All I get in return is this pit in my stomach that sparks a fire in my intuition —spreading like wildfire— that just maybe, I should let go of control. Let it play out. No need to end it, before it ends you.

Before 2026, I need to practice the simple deeds of surrender as an act of love. For now, I just ask the ether of this Texas winter to please be kind to me. It has no answer, just yet.

But what really keeps me stubbornly grounded in times of restlessness and growing pains is visualizing, using my colorful imagination. If I think about graduation day for too long, I end up channeling this energy. From the moment I wake up to the moment I lay my pretty head on my pillow.

From one channel to the next, I’m immersed in this soon-to-be memory. I see myself from the outside looking in on this particular December winter Saturday...

There I am, looking radiant as I glow with a halo-like aura all around me. I stand in my cap and gown as the sun falls from a golden dusk turned a sliver moon night. When I walk that stage, I feel my fortune’s fate slip right into my soul—there’s a click, like second skin. At the same time, I hear my mother’s prayer sent up above, down to my heart, along with my father doing the family’s whistle—everything else is muffled. My throat is closing, pride is now in the driver’s seat; an alternate aura is in place now, and trickles down to the evening.

The night is still young and magical, because it’s all I wanted and more. I’m surrounded by my people who chose to show up for me. There’s a warm romantic ambiance in the cold chapped air. Where fire pits are scattered all over the backyard; they’re igniting belly laughter and bright smiles. As I hop from table to table spreading my gratitude and appreciation, I hear in my left ear a story from when I was a baby told by my godparents from a table with my parents and their best friends. Then in my right ear, my cousin’s laugh, that brings me comfort, coming from the back as she hugs me tight, whispering, you graduated, I’m proud of you! I see in my peripheral, my best longtime friends, pouring drinks to salute to me.

These are people from my past, present, and will make up my future—those I’ll see on the other side—all in unison under the same roof, joyfully celebrating with me. Talk about worlds colliding. After all, the right people stay, for all the right reasons. Not out of connivence, or obligation, but because they want to.

I see them staying after everyone else goes home. Not to help and clean up, but to debrief until 4am in the kitchen as we say good morning to the night. Finally, I surrender to the night with makeup smudged, and hair half taken down—proof I lived and ruled the night.

It’s because of the community I am surrounded by this weekend, I know I will have a story to tell. A memory I will carry on my hip forever and onward into the new year. It’ll be at arm’s reach, whenever I want to feel something, it’ll be my crystal ball; holstered with my name all over it. A slice of life just for me.

I must remind myself, as it is just days away—it’s closer than I think. I must not wish to fast forward, but to trust The Now—however that might look like today and tomorrow and so on. I’m ready to run into this winter, with my arms wide open.

Saturday will feel like I’m coming home. Because there’s always a version of me that made it out the other end. She’s closing the door and opening the window right next to it.

So, please Winter, take your time, let this night go on forever. Let me enjoy you and the ride. We have much more to go; onto ten thousand more miles of wishes, dreams, passions, time, change and romantic magic.

To this weekend, and to the rest of you reading, I’ll see you when I see you.

Farewell for now

About the Contributor

Dominique Macias, Editor-in-Chief

Dominique Macias is a senior, finalizing a degree in media advertising. When promoted as EIC in summer 2025, she launched Minero’s very first web column: Between You & Me. Her published works have been about identity and culture, and she hopes to further her creative direction in the film industry as both a writer and director.

Minero Magazine

Wishful Winter, Please Be Good to Me

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