the magic of snow

I recently enjoyed some snow. It’s so rare these days, even in parts of the country where it was once common and expected. I grew up in an area that is known for being warm and we did not see much snow. When we did, I was thrilled! I am the person that will go and twirl in a short blast of flurries. In my thirties I got the opportunity to live in Alaska, obviously well-known for having a lot of snow cold most of the year. I knew even as a child that where I was born was not my “home” and that I was meant to be somewhere else. The change that moving to a place still within the U.S. but completely opposite as far as climate and landscape was the best thing that ever happened to me; it was transformative in ways I can never articulate. We have since moved several more times and I have had many other “homes” and it has taught me that home is not a place at all it’s a feeling. It’s a vibe. Snow is home to me. It quiets the earth and quiets my mind. It takes all the frustration and overwhelm, my tears and sweat of summer, and freezes them. Turns them into soft and sparkling glitter that gently kisses my cheeks and blankets the world in crystals. It’s my reward for continuing to wake up and participate in this life. Hang in there, hang in there, I will shower you in silvery silence and serve you bowl after bowl of comforting soup. Every frosty fluttering flake fills me with gratitude.

I hope you get to see some snow. And if you do, I hope you experience it with the wonder of a child. Have a snowball fight. Build a snowman. Try to catch a few soft crystals on your tongue. Water falling from the sky is miracle enough but turning into fluffy ice before it falls?? A winter wizard’s sorcery, a magical delight. Take a moment to enjoy what is only here for a moment. Never numb yourself to the beauty of this world.