Last Thursday, we enjoyed over seven inches of snowfall at my house, just north of Nashville, in a relatively short period of time. I don’t remember getting that amount of snow in a very long while. When snow is predicted here in Tennessee, we usually run to the store, stock up on
essentials, and then never see anything. Not this time.
Snow brings out the child in me. Usually roads are quickly unsafe, plans are canceled and I’m out playing on the first day. I take a walk, make a few snowballs, get the sleds out and indulge my sense of wonder.
I thoroughly enjoy snow: the smell, the beauty, the tranquility of winter silence, the crisp air, bundling up with multiple layers, the feel and sound of snow crunching beneath my boots. We make sure the birdfeeders are full. I love watching a bright red cardinal come to visit, and watching him rest in the snow-laden tree branches. It’s fun to come in, strip off all the excess clothing, get into something dry and warm, and drink a cup of something hot. Ooh I love all of it.
I’ve been working on a big speaking deadline and regretfully, I didn’t allow any playtime on day one or day two of the snow. By Friday evening, I was feeling really low. My spirit hadn’t had much fun in days. Prior to the speaking deadline, I was busy finalizing everything for a seventeen-piece solo art show that went up on Tuesday. So I hadn’t painted since the prior Thursday and was missing that spiritual outlet as well.
A car runs out of fuel and our spirits do too. I was empty!
On Saturday, self-care and fun were tops on my list. Our temperatures were expected to rise above freezing, so it was my last chance to play in the snow before it all melted. It was time to address my fun and joy deficit.
I did some prayer and journaling, I connected with like-minded people, and then I went outside. Wearing my tall waterproof boots, I took a long walk around the block, making sure to stay in the deepest snow possible for maximum adventure. Once back home, I made a few snow angels and then just laid still on the ground, staring up through the trees at the beautiful blue sky.
The day prior, someone had posted a zoomed-in photo of snowflakes on their dog and I was amazed at how beautiful and distinct they were. When we look at blankets of snow, we can’t appreciate the snowflakes making up the mass of white. All the man-made illustrations of snowflakes are so extraordinary that I honestly thought they were exaggerated. I didn’t recall ever taking the time to look at a real snowflake.
Curiously, I broke apart a handful of snow, and to my delight, I could see an abundance of individual snowflakes that weren’t otherwise visible when grouped together. It's true, no two were alike. I was suddenly reminded that we humans are wonderfully unique and special too.
Belonging to a community is important. Feeling connected and part of something bigger than us is critical. And yet, we weren't always meant to just blend in.
It’s important to frequently separate from the herd so that our individual gifts and talents can be seen. They were meant to be shared with the world.
Today, check your fuel gauge and make sure to fill up on lots of self-care, delight and fun so your spirit doesn’t have to run on fumes. Also, look for new ways to break away from the crowd, cluster with like-minded people, and really let your light shine.
We’re just like the snowflakes. We need one another to accomplish what we cannot do alone. But we also need to be willing to stand out so that our individual gifts can have maximum impact, too. The world needs your beauty and the footprints that only you can leave. Shine on!
