The Meaning of Snow

Just a few days ago, the National Weather Service reported that 49 states had snow on the ground. (Florida, not Hawai'i, was the hold out.) Friends from Southern states were commenting that their towns were shut down for days as they lacked the capacity to deal with the white frozen stuff, while friends nearby (we had just received 12-20 inches of snow in my area) were lamenting the strain and challenges of shoveling and snowblowing. The conversation could well have been filed under "First real snow of the year" and filed for next year around this time. At least here in the North East, we really seem to enjoy talking about the weather, so this conversation will undoubtably be used again and again. In fact, we are due to receive more snow in a few days.

As I shoveled (and shoveled and shoveled), after contemplating the weight of the snow (especially wet and heavy) and before I started to contemplate my physical limitations, I discovered several benefits of snow. In the interest of sharing joy and health, and of preparing for next week's expected storm, I wanted to share these discoveries with you.

The first unmistakable benefit of snow hits you before you have even walked out, when you open your eyes in the morning after the snow has fallen. The world is measurably brighter! The sun is shining, having emptied the clouds, and that sunshine reflects and refracts all over the place. It is stunning. The increased light, especially at this time of increased darkness, is healing to the psyche; it feels good. It also can remind us to think with greater clarity, to avoid hiding behind the veils of drama that we can add to any situation. When we add drama, we can not see a situation honestly, we usually upset ourselves which decreases our health, and we find it much harder to find a way out of those situations. When we see our lives more clearly, the acts of others carry no additional, unhelpful, meaning. That simplicity is beautiful and helpful in and of itself.

The next benefit that strikes the senses, is the quiet. Snow's blanket over all the hard and sharp surfaces softens the bouncing sound waves. I live in the city, and this difference is huge. The constant background noise of buses and trucks and cars and people and dogs and horns and... that accompanies me all day and night throughout the rest of the year is turned down when it snows. It is a wonderful relief. The sudden quiet also encourages meditation and inward seeking (hence this blog post.) This is not surprising as many cultures that experience these seasonal changes see deep winter as a spiritual, inward-facing time of the year.

Quickly, the next benefit manifests itself: slow down. One cannot run through snow. One can not rush shoveling. All one can do is pick the snow up and put it down, carefully pick your way down the street, whether walking or driving. You are required to pay attention to this moment. While shoveling, not paying attention can lead to muscle strain or pinched nerves. While walking, it can lead to a spill, and while driving an accident can result. The roads have changed shape and size and the sidewalks are multidimensional and slippery; autopilot is simply not an option. Being here, now, for this unique and precious moment and aware of our surroundings is a huge gift! By slowing down and doing less multitasking, our health and well-being are enhanced. As I've mentioned before, if we are not aware of this day, it is as if it never happened. By requiring us to be more aware, we have the gift of moments, hours, days we would have missed otherwise.

Finally, the last gift is that of community. As we shovel snow, we recognize that we are all in the same boat, and barriers between people can come down. We also can not ignore that we are interconnected; where I put my snow will impact those around me if I am not thoughtful. This gift was brought more strongly to my attention this year. We have had neighbors that we have barely seen since they arrived last summer. I have judged them unkindly over that time. Earlier this week, as we shoveled together, up to our knees in the same snow, I got to know them a little bit. I feel far more empathy for them (this was the first snow they have seen in their lives, and they were unsure on where to even begin in the digging out). I also know that they have benefited by starting to know their neighbors and starting to connect with their community. Over the years of living in this city, frequently known for its lack of kindness by some stereotypes, I have always enjoyed this change in temperament the most! And, as I've mentioned before, community is a key ingredient in health.

These are not all of snow's gifts to us. There is physical activity and exercise involved with snow -- whether you are moving through it or trying to relocate it -- and there is cleaner air to breath, just to name a few. Yes, snow is inconvenient, and even now the clean white blanket is a dirty coating in many places. But, it is also a gift to be enjoyed.