Snowing Down

It’s snowing. It began early this morning as a hint of flakes bouncing haphazardly through the air and progressed to the type of snow that I like the most: those large clumps that resemble pieces torn from a cotton ball rather than flakes. Despite their light-as-a-cloud appearance, they fall with intent and stick to whatever they first contact and I bet that during their travels, they do a nice job of filtering the air for us. And rather than disappear, they accumulate, adding a beautiful, white cover to fences, mailboxes, the power lines, roofs on buildings, and even the tiniest of limbs on trees. That’s probably what I love most about this snow: the way it transforms the trees from bare, faded brown or gray limbs or evergreen needles to a vibrant white that brightens even cloudy days. And I can’t forget that this snow is perfect for making snowmen.

Some may say, but I don’t like to drive in the snow. True, there are risks involved when driving in a snowstorm, and some storms leave motorists stranded and it’s happened to me as well. Many years ago, a storm hit so fast and hard that my car wound up stuck in the middle of a street. I had to abandon it there overnight, along with several other cars. Luckily, I was with a friend and we spent the night at her home baking cookies. When I think back to that night, I realize how much fun we had because we made the most of that unplanned situation - and we slowed down. And now more and more, I take advantage of those times when I can slow down and enjoy the present moments. One of my favorite things to do, still, when I’m snowed in, is to spend the day warming up the house by cooking/baking. Then, I love to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea on the sofa. When these occasions do arise, I can usually think of a million things to do instead, but I may not enjoy them as much. And since this Winter will be over in no time, and I can’t ever get the time back, I want to spend as many opportunities as I can doing the things that I love to do.

It’s still snowing, and it’s still pretty. And I’m still grateful…

Indulge the Soul

I am very committed to a healthy lifestyle. I exercise regularly and eat a very healthy diet that focuses on lots of veggies, fruits, lean proteins and good fats. And I can say that together, this combination helps to make me feel energetic and happy. But that’s only part of the story. To truly be happy, one must also be content from within. Our outer Worlds truly reflect the state of our inner Worlds and our health is certainly an integral component of that concept. A strong mind and body connection exists within us all. Every thought we have generates an emotion and leads to a biochemical reaction in the body that can have a positive or negative effect. As Deepak Chopra discusses in his book, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind:

“…Our cells are constantly eavesdropping on our thoughts and being changed by them. A bout of depression can wreak havoc with the immune system, falling in love can boost it. Despair and hopelessness raise the risk of heart attacks and cancer, thereby shortening life. Joy and fulfillment keep us healthy and extend life. This means that the line between biology and psychology can’t really be drawn with any certainty.”

Now, with this in mind, I return to my diet. Although it is healthy and I enjoy the foods I eat, there are certain things that I love that I would simply not eat on a daily basis. Pizza, chocolate desserts, rich, fatty ice creams are a few of these. But the idea of total deprivation leaves me a bit empty. Likewise, feelings such as guilt or failure associated with eating these things seem equally as harmful as the physical consequences of eating them at all. And I believe this idea is especially important to those who are trying to lose weight.

So how do we get around this? By knowing that, on occasion, we should enjoy the things that we love and that everything can be good for us in moderation. When we allow ourselves these indulgences and fully enjoy and appreciate them, free from guilt, we feed an empty place in the soul. We replace feelings of deprivation with abundance. And we nurture our inner World, which strengthens our outer World.