Why does snow falling have the ability to make us feel so entranced and enchanted?
“Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
Silver white winters that melt into springs,
These are a few of my favorite things.”
Aw, I still love those famous lyrics from my favorite movie as a child, Sound of Music.
Family Snow Day
Although we live in the California desert, we’re only an hour drive away from the mountains. This weekend my husband, son, grandchildren, and I went up to Idyllwild to play in the snow.
The trip got me to thinking about why snow can make us feel so darn happy.
(And yes, I am aware that I was only visiting the snow and didn’t have to live, shovel, or deal with the slush afterward. But don’t rain – or snow – on my parade!)
Here are my top three reasons snow brings us such unadulterated joy:
The Magic of Nature
“Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.” — William Hamilton Gibson
Actually, I lived in northern California as a child, Idyllwild as a teen, as well as Washington State for a few years as an adult. I remember well the pure excitement of waking up to a white winter wonderland where the snow gently kisses meadows and trees in a breathtaking way.
I know some of my friends up north and back east may be sick of the snow by now, but let’s try and not lose that childlike wonderment, exhilaration, and genuine delight. No matter how old we are, we can still appreciate the way snow beautifies everything it touches, creating a still and stunning landscape.
Forming those first footprints in a vast white pristine field while breathing in the invigorating fresh cold air allows us to connect with our natural surroundings in a profound way.
Live in the Present
“A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky – unbidden – and seems like a thing of wonder.” Susan Orlean
Catching snowflakes on their tongues.
A fleeting snowfall forces us to pause and take note of the entrancing beauty. No matter what’s happening in our lives, peaceful falling snow has the serene power to calm us down.
Who can dwell on the past or worry about the future while we’re watching snowflakes gently float soundlessly from the sky?
Who can frown while creating a funny, fat snowman, playfully catching snowflakes on our tongues, or enjoying the thrill of a sled ride? Who can resist screaming with delight during a snowball fight?
And who can stop laughing when you discover your granddaughter is photobombing you in the snowstorm? Not me, as evidenced in the photo below!
Time with Your Family
“We build statues out of snow, and weep to see them melt.” — Walter Scott
Ah, so true. Whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or creating snow angels, snow forts, or snowmen, or having a raucous snowball fight, snow naturally brings families together. But as the poem notes, all good things have to come to an end. Well, sort of.
Eventually my granddaughter cried because her fingers were painfully cold and it was time to head for the warmth of our home. Luckily, the joy of a snow day continues after you go inside to warm up by a roaring fire with a mug of hot chocolate. It’s a wonderful chance to snuggle with your loved ones and reminisce about the glory of the day.
So all of you snow haters out there, excuse this Californian’s enthusiasm for the white stuff, but I can’t help feeling the same way as American novelist Candace Bushnell, who eloquently wrote:
“Thank goodness for the first snow. It was a reminder — no matter how old you became and how much you’d seen, things could still be new if you were willing to believe they still mattered.”