As I woke up this morning and opened my window, I saw the beautiful, white, fresh snow falling to the ground. Amongst all the thoughts in my head, I found the most pressing was that of the thought of a new start.
All my life, the first snowfall as come to be seen as a new beginning. A new season starting, the new holiday season beginning, the brightness of the new, white snow, and I have found that there is a sense of joy that comes over me whenever it falls. The new start brings newfound joy and new thanksgiving. The snow may only stay like this for a day or two, but the feeling of happiness from the newness of the times last at least until New Year's, maybe even later.
In Northeast Ohio, it may begin to snow in October and snow through March. At a time, it may turn bleak, boring, annoying to drive in, or downright sad. At this moment, though, it is the time to feel that little flutter of joy bottling up in your stomach. With Thanksgiving only days away, and Christmas coming soon after, it is a time to feel thankful and joyful for all that surrounds you day to day.
It is easy to walk around and complain of the cold, to drive through this and complain of the traffic, to sit in you room and complain the sun is not out, but that's the easy route. What is much harder, but much more rewarding, is to sit there and be thankful for heat, hot cocoa, a fire, and a blanket, to be happy you have time to listen to your favorite holiday music in your morning commute, to be thankful to watch the beautiful art of a morning snowfall from the comfort of your room.
The stark white after the abundances of color of fall suggests a clean slate, starting over, forgiving, and peacefully becoming anew. The peace is a sense of comfort, remembering the family that will soon surround us, and the gloriously giving acts of the holiday season. Acts that we can make to affect ourselves and others for days and years to come. There is a joy in finding that.
The first snowfall brings about a feeling of joy to most. On any given day for the first week of new snow, you will see endless Snapchats of the snow falling, see kids all over campus running through the endless snow, and see the select few who are seeing their first ever snowfall in real life. The snow brings about a childlike happiness that extends beyond the person enjoying the snow, it spreads to all of those surrounding that person.
While the change of weather could be an annoyance to some, to most, it is the start of something new. It can be whatever you make of it, but most of all, it can be more than you have ever thought before.
The first snowfall brings about new thoughts for everyone. Whether it is new joy or a new disdain for the world, that is your prerogative, but in the spirit of the season, push for the joy of a new day, and take some time to sit back and realize how much this first snowfall has to offer you.
