weathering the storm

The morning after the “blizzard of 2010″ boasts beautiful blue skies, sunshine and sparkling white snow. Here in western NJ, we got about 18″ when it was all said and done. It made for a day without travel, a day where skis, snowshoes and snowmachines were the mode of transportation if you went out at all!

After lunch yesterday, I put on the cross country skis and vowed to find a field that I could play on. I set out down my unplowed street and actually ended up skiing down Charlestown Road—which is usually filled with heavy traffic doing about 50-60mph!! I grinned as I skied down the road, snow blowing in my face, water dripping off my nose. This was freedom! This was rebellious! This was totally awesome!!

I skied for an hour and found my way back to the warmth of the fireplace, 2 furry dogs and a husband playing on his tractor, mounding huge piles of snow everywhere. The birds were at the feeders all day long, a tranquilizing site, just watching them flit about in the hemlocks. Even the dogs sat in the windows and watched them.

Many people complain about winter, get depressed in winter, hate the snow. Storms happen. Whether it’s snow or rain, or work woes or family feuds, storms happen. How well do you deal with the storms in your life? Do you waste energy creating negativity that saps your vital strength and health? Or do you find an upside and roll with it, instead choosing to focus on a positive element?

I encourage you to try to find a bright spot in every storm that you encounter. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes the best we can do is pour a cup of tea and go to bed, pulling the covers up under our chins. So be it. It’s a better choice than wallowing in a bag of Oreo cookies! Create your emergency preparedness plan today. What will you do when the next storm hits? Know in advance that you have a plan. My plan usually consists of one of two things: some exercise with the dogs, or a hot, detoxifying bath and a cup of tea. There are many other options– reading a good book, pampering yourself through self-massage, dry brushing or giving yourself a manicure or pedicure. Read the Bible, sew, bake something–healthful!

I hope you find the beauty in this winter storm, the way the snow lights up the darkness of night, the way the sun’s rays play off the trees, and the sparkling jewels of snowflakes as the wind blows them through the sunlight. Namaste.

Diane