“If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?”

Rumi

The scene outside my window is breathtaking. Never mind that I don’t really care for the cold, or that the surprise storm derailed my plans for the day. I am awed by the majesty and beauty around me.

Perhaps you’ve heard me say, “It’s constantly raining blessings, while most of us hide under our umbrellas.” Today provided yet another opportunity to move out from under the cover of protection, and be tickled by the snowflakes.

I re-commit to my practice of finding blessings (and lessons) in whatever falls on the ground around me, on the tip of my nose, or deep in my heart.

This day, as much a gift as any other, allows me to linger in my comfiest jammies, fill my house with music and the smells of the nourishment I create in my kitchen, and watch as the world transforms. It has given me an unexpected space to work on the projects that require my body to stay still, unaffected by the typical busy-ness that hijacks most days.

It would be quite easy to rail against the weather, as uncontrollable as it is, and to become fraught with worry about how the rest of the week will unfold with today’s obligations piled on to the already full days remaining.

I could worry.

I choose not to, because that would discount the perfection of what is now.

Maybe today it’s easier. Maybe I secretly wanted this surprise snow day. Maybe the weather fairies wanted me to work on what is important, not just what is urgent. Maybe that pristine blanket of snow has allowed me to uncover what has been obscured.

What have you done with your snow days, literal or otherwise? When life has forced you to stop doing and start being?

I would love to hear what’s happened for you when you’ve chosen to put the umbrella down, and decided to let the snow fall.

Snow angels, anyone?