Snow snow

I like the snow. Many of my favorite experiences growing up involved the snow.

We used to sled down the huge hill in front of Seeley’s house and then go inside to play Halo 2. Those were probably some of the happiest moments of my life: so warm, so cold.

And we used to wake up early and walk around the neighborhood carrying bright red snow shovels. The neighbors in need of help would call out to us and offer us $40 or $60 or $100 to shovel their sidewalks and driveways. That was a lot of money at the time; we’d go to Taco Bell and buy tacos.

That just goes to show how money is relative to your mindset, and how happiness can consist of a $1 taco if your mindset is one of gratitude.

With or without friends, I used to walk around the woods in the winter. Actually, I walked around the woods today as the snow began to fall. And I also shoveled some snow tonight right before writing this down.

I used to walk around the neighborhood and walk around the meadows and walk around the lake. In the snow all these things looked so peaceful and so beautiful, so reflective, white, and cold.

I loved to walk across the frozen lake.

And to sit on a boulder beside the lake and there, with the snow still falling, to meditate.

Snow, snow.

It’s said that winter is cold, but I think the opposite is so very much more true. The outside cold brings out the warmth within.

I’ve never felt warmer than I’ve felt in the winter, when the snow is gently, gently – and the ice is slowly, slowly – and the sky is peacefully, serenely…

Falling, freezing, being.

You light a fire in the winter and the whole world is home.