Anatomy of the quiet of snow
& the earth provides
There are few things that don’t take deliberate, intense noticing for me. The kind of noticing where you have to consciously choose to take notice. You have to stop and tell yourself, “enjoy the sun” or “enjoy the view” or ”live in the moment” and things like that.
Weather is usually a slap in the face sort of noticing for me- like the sheets of rain that hit our back patio; The thundering of noise bouncing on the porch covering. The way the clouds roll in. The wind picking up. I don’t try to notice it. I just do.
Snow is another. Another notice that I have grown to love, not having been in connection with it my whole life. I’ve been in the snow a handful of times. When I was younger, there are pictures of me making snowballs with my mom, cousins, and my brother. Later, I’ve visited the snow to go snowboarding or to snowmobile. Once, pictured above, was an impromptu trip to Yosemite in the winter with friends. The day was quiet. The snow outlined the water, granite cliffs, limited trails. It was perfection.
A little while ago, we took my nephew to the snow and rented an Airbnb. We didn’t know if it would or wouldn’t snow, but we woke up the second morning and silently watched as the ice flakes stuck to the porch, to the dirt, to everything within sight. The fall of snow was silent, and so were the 6 adults and one small child, glued to the glass of the windows watching the world change before us. Silence met with excitement. Nature was reminding us that she was here, still, prevailing over all of us.
We played in that snow until the white was brown with slick mud. That snow was our noticing, our living in the moment, without being asked, told, or reminded.
Mid-February: over a year later and more used to the snow than I have been in my life, the snow graced the mountaintops once again with it’s presence, telling us I’m here again. As I drove home from work, little drops of ice made it’s way to my windshield. My excitement rose. No way! It can’t be snow. We’re too far down in elevation. I was wrong. It was.
I stood in my driveway as I had two months prior (our previous snow), noticing. Noticing the way the snow fell, how quiet the world was, how this one simple moment in life brings up joy that one hundred moments couldn’t touch.
It is said (I’m sure, somewhere) that wintering is a time for rest and healing. The sun has been out like springtime, creating feelings of wanting long summer nights, campfires, and bathing in the warmth.
But wait, wait- maybe you are not done yet, the earth was trying to say. Maybe there is no need to rush. Alas, it’s still winter. Winter is still here for you. Winter understands that your body is excited, but it is not quite ready for the season to change. That you are still allowed to take it slow- sleep in with the sun, bundle up in the evening, have long, snow mornings and afternoons resting and reading. The earth is here for you. It will slow for you and tell you when it’s time.
I think back to what my mom has said: “I always thought it was neat that the snow had no sound. I always loved that.” There is something about it- how there is a magical piece of ice falling from the sky. Wordlessly. Nurturing in a way, providing. Not only for the earth as part of the give-and-take cycle nature explores, but for us, too- a moment of meditation. Meditations on calmness, the earth and its invisible power, old movies, family, laughter, childhood memories. A feeling of belonging- that you, too, were a part of the magic.
Pick me ups
Courage and Power from Pain: https://brenebrown.com/articles/2018/05/09/courage-power-pain-interview-viola-davis/ 💗
The Paris Library: The Paris Library a book by Janet Skeslien Charles (bookshop.org) 🗼
150 Years of Yellowstone + Park Collabs: 150 Years of Yellowstone - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) + Parks Project | Shop Yellowstone Collection | National Park Gear 🦬
Monday, Monday: How to get out of your worst nightmare - by marlee grace (substack.com) 💐
Where We Walk: Introducing: Where We Walk - A She Explores Podcast Mini-Series — She Explores (she-explores.com) 👈