Springtime snow

This weekend we got our disappointingly predictable very late March snow storm. I won’t be surprised if we get another snow sprinkle in April sometime. I feel like I can put my foot down when we get to May… 

Saturday’s snow made me marvel at how beautiful the trees looked. Completely blanketed. Icy magic. And yet as the snow continued, I began to notice the branches sagging beneath the weight of this blanket. I bore witness to the way these majestic trees compromised their posture to accommodate the snow. How contorted their bodies became. How silently they protested. And from a quick glance, peering out at them from warm inside, the first thought that came to mind is “the trees look so beautiful covered in snow”. 

How much do we contort ourselves to carry the burdens that settle on us like blanketed snow? Can we see how slouched we’ve become to accommodate them? How much height we’ve relinquished? There is no doubt that some of the load we carry will shift only with time, experience, and resilience. But what about the other stuff? The things that are both placed upon us and that we load up on ourselves. We are so capable, so practiced. From the outside, we hold this weight so well. It’s no wonder that, from the window, many others see the beauty and not the sacrifice it takes to hold. it. up. 

The trees must wait painfully patiently for the warmth to come or the wind to blow. They have to wait for some external force to come and relieve them of their frosty burdens. You and I, though? We have the luxury of shaking off the snow and standing ourselves up all on our own. 

What is one small thing you can do to shake yourself free of a bit of snow today? To stand just a little bit taller? To feel a little bit lighter? Doing a little jiggle (but really, do it) won’t solve all the problems, but might make an important shift in your day. Let’s see what happens when we shake a little something off today!