Winter's Beauty

It's hard not to see what the world has become. Angry people everywhere you turn, each feeling righteous in their anger. Trauma and depression can go hand in hand. The feelings of helplessness or hopelessness can lead to one or the other.

I'm here, in my tree-hugger hippy persona way, today to say it doesn't have to be this way. How we feel does directly impact how we perceive our surroundings and our interactions with our world.

Each day we rise and hope for better. We trudge to our offices or living rooms to start our day. At that first glance of a new day, there are always promises of the sun, the snow, the sun on the snow. We want to exist in that moment.  We want to find ourselves in those gaps between who we truly are, what is real, and what we think we should be. We want to stay in that gap where all is possible, all is probable.

Fear creates anger and mistrust. What if, hear me out, we chose not to be angry or resentful? What if we choose not to need a less fortunate group of people in the world around us?  What if we decided not to allow someone else to make up our minds about what we are, who we like, or what we believe?

Sometimes winter seems to have stalled life, but under the icy surface, life moves forward. Winter is beautiful in its own right. When we think of winter, we usually think of stagnation. But nature never takes a well-deserved rest. It continually prepares and rejuvenates. It is an obligatory stop for most people. But, it can be used as a time for reflection.  If we trust in the process, we can rest and prep ourselves to make a fresh start. Beauty is everywhere and in everyone.

Ignore people who refuse to see the beauty of the moment. They just haven't gotten to the point of knowing what is important and valid. They don't realize that each moment is precious and is a miracle. The pandemic nature of Covid-19 has helped some of us recognize that each beat of your heart, every breath you take, and every moment you share is a gift.

So enjoy winter's beauty and serenity.  Enjoy the snowscapes and cold temperatures as a way to learn to live in the now. Winter is a way to help us understand how to be present. So, let's be present with a positive purpose, a grateful heart, and a mindful spirit.