Winter

 

Friday morning. I sit here and stare out the window. Overnight we got around 2 inches of snow. I have already been outside attempting to clear the back deck, sidewalk, and part of the driveway. The blowing snow has undone most of my hard work.

A warm pumpkin spice chai tea warms my insides and fills my nose with a fresh aroma of one of my favorite fragrances. The stream rises from my “The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go” mug while I stare out at a group of crows feeding off the peanuts and birdseed. I laid out for them this morning.

The wind whips around, carrying a swirling chorus of snow that dances and twirls in the frigid air. Each snowflake, a tiny minor masterpiece, lands softly on the ground. The world in front of me blurs into a swirling white vortex, and muffling sounds of hushed serenity. Here, in the heart of a winter storm, I find not just warmth and shelter, but an unexpected solace.

There’s a strange beauty in the chaos outside, a raw power in the way the world surrenders to the grip of a snowstorm. Yet, inside this haven of florescent lights and comforting scents, I feel a deep sense of peace. It’s the quiet knowledge that all around me, life continues, uninterrupted by the fury raging outside. My quiet corner of the world, with its promise of hot tea, accompanied by a slight smile on my face, feels so comforting against the vast white canvas of winter.

As I refocus on my work before me, my heart is a little lighter, my breath a little steadier. I carry with me a newfound appreciation for the comfort that can be found in the most unexpected places. Winter’s icy grip may hold this part of the world in its thrall, but even amid the storm, there is always a haven to be found. Soothing warm tea, beautiful views and the black crows that feed only feet from my window. Their black feathers stand is sharp contrast to the blanket of snow that surrounds them.

Most people hate winter and view it as cold, desolate, and unappealing. Personally, I am the opposite. I relish the cold. I even accept the gray skies. While most choose to hibernate, winter provides me a venue to explore the world with fewer distractions and fewer people.

“Winter is the slow-down. Winter is the search for self. Winter gives the silence we need to listen. Winter goes gray so we can see our own colors…”–Terri Guillemets

Until next time,

Tim