December 5, 2025
The fluffy white boughs of the nandina outside my window bend and bounce as sparrows shift position, snuggling next to each other for warmth. The scarlet berries stand in contrast to the muted grays and browns of the late fall landscape. My cat Lily is entranced by the snow, the birds and the transformed landscape she sees outside the window. She spends meditative moments beside me, watching the world on her “cat tv.”
Ah, a snow day! Every child’s favorite excuse to be home from school with deadlines delayed and assignments forgotten. As little ones, the thrill is making snowmen, sledding or snowball fights with friends. Older children prefer to sleep in and play video games for much of the day. I have an amalgamation of happy snow day memories with my boys over the years. Often, they involved sleepovers with friends because I would be home from work and other parents had to go into their jobs as nurses, lawyers or essential employees. I spent hours happily making snacks or large batches of pancakes to feed the four or more boys hiding in pillow forts or gaming in our den. Every once in a while, I would throw the boys outside with sleds and orders to play in the snow for at least an hour before bringing them in for my signature homemade hot cocoa made with real milk and unlimited whipped cream and marshmallows. The singey smell of hats and mittens drying on the radiators filling the house.
As the forecast grew more likely to shut the schools down yesterday, the chatter in my library from students and faculty was all about what we wanted to do if we got a bonus day off. Writing was top on my list, even though my hard drive on my home computer crashed last week. Thank goodness I have a county issued laptop that I am free to use and was encouraged to bring home in case we needed to meet online or do other work. Like the students, sleeping in was a high priority, as was a walk in the snowy landscape. A book I started yesterday is just the temptation needed to draw me in for a late morning cuddle under a fleecy blanket and a there is always a movie to watch as I enjoy a fire in our wood burning fireplace. An added bonus is that our house is already decorated for Christmas, so it is especially cozy and inviting right now.
I absolutely adore the subtle colors and sensations of walking in the snow. The regular sounds of our suburban neighborhood are muted by the blanket of snow covering the ground and roads. Few cars go by, but when they do they produce a distinctive swishing sound as their tires fling wet snow in their wake. A rustling of squirrels and birds searching for seeds and nuts catches my attention. The snow at first glance is dramatically white, but upon closer examination is shaded with pastel pinks, blues and violet along animal and people tracks. A fresh scent fills the air. Here and there on my walk, I can smell the resin of pine and cedar. If I feel bold, perhaps I will taste the snow or bring some home in a bowl to turn into snow cream?
I am not a person who easily slows down or does nothing. Snow days are one of the few times I have consistently allowed myself to goof off or ignore my never-ending to-do list. Perhaps that is why teachers are more excited about the forecast for snow than students? For me, I believe snow days have been a starting point on my journey to a more mindful life. The languid rhythm lets me fully unwind from the stresses of work and settle into the luxurious sense of unscheduled time. In the modern world of computers and remote work, snow days may become a thing of the past, but I doubt that will happen in my working years. For now, I will settle into that late morning reading session and contemplate the things I might do if the mood hits me. Will there be potato soup on the stove for dinner or fresh baked cookies in the oven? Maybe? Or perhaps I won’t do anything at all?
Mindful Musings 