Was the blizzard a gift or a trial?
Last weekend’s blizzard did not take anyone by surprise.
Even those who never listen to the weather could not have missed the plethora of blizzard memes warning people to be prepared by stocking up on everything from wine to books.
Like everyone else, I did the practical things, which included stocking up on bottled water and canned soup in case of a power outage, and sending our son back to college before the snow started on Friday. (Anyone who’s been to Lehigh’s campus can imagine the nightmare of dealing with two feet of snow combined with the entire student body trying to move back into dorms the day after a blizzard. So VERY glad my son lives off campus and could go back early.)
The snow came, just like the weathermen said. It snowed. And snowed. And snowed. Besides sticking our noses out occasionally to check how many inches had accumulated, we stayed in and ignored the weather.
Normally weekends are for getting things done, but for some reason the blizzard gave us permission to forget our To-Do lists and simply putter. As if the deep blanket of snow was muffling the incessant cries of Stuff-You-Really-Ought-To-Be-Doing-Today and allowing us to do other things. The kind of things that may never have risen to the top of the urgent list. Like watching hour-long beekeeping videos (my husband) or sitting down to update my photo albums (me.) And there was plenty of time to talk, watch a movie together, and simply curl up and read.
Altogether, it was a lovely weekend. Cozy. Slow-paced. Restorative.
But not everyone is so content when things outside their control mess with their plans, are they? Many people spent their two snowbound days doing everything but rest.
Why?
We’ve forgotten how to rest
We’ve grown so accustomed to constant activity that even when the opportunity arises to be still, we can’t help but feel unsettled. Priscilla Shirer
We are so used to being busy, so inundated with messages that productivity is critical, that when given a few hours of idleness we feel guilty or frustrated. Then, instead of facing those feelings, we try to numb them with mindless distractions: TV and YouTube. Hours on Pinterest. Candy Crush. Free Cell. Sudoku. Books. …
None of those things are inherently bad, but they can all be used to help us avoid listening to our own thoughts. Or paying attention to the people around us.
When was the last time you sat down and just let your mind wander? Or took the time to journal? Or gave up your agenda long enough to get down on the floor and play with the kids? [Yes, I know how hard this can be, but perhaps it pays larger dividends than we imagine.] Or sat down with your spouse or grown child to talk about whatever without allowing phones or TV to distract you?
When was the last time you enjoyed the kind of mental and spiritual rest that refuels, heals, and gives clarity?
If you can’t answer that, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your priorities.
Perhaps it’s time to learn how to enjoy a blizzard.
I had to laugh at myself when I realized how much pleasure I had received from reading for 2 days without feeling guilty. Good grief. Do I usually feel guilty taking a day or 2 to read?? I realized that I do – clearly a voice from my past upbringing on a farm where there is ALWAYS work to be done and bookworm children were slackers. Maybe it’s time to reprogram myself.
YES!