Monday Mindfulness: Appreciating The Pause

As much of the country is blanketed in snow and ice, this is a perfect time to pause… to take a deep breath, notice the beauty of our surroundings, and slow down. Yes, the snow wreaks havoc on our well-assembled plans. School is canceled, day-care is closed, meetings and appointments are pushed aside, our travel plans are either rescheduled or delayed. 

Fortunately for most of us, however, the winter weather is nothing more than an inconvenience. 

Two of my favorite things about the snow (besides snow angels) are the way it falls in solitude, and the visual effect it has on our landscape. Both of these gifts are actually deceptive, for beneath the snow lies Spring. While we are in the moment of the winter solstice, we shift focus away from the fact that just beneath our feet, and also just above our heads is growing grass and budding trees & flowers. Even in the stillness and solitude of a snowstorm, Spring life continues to push forward. 

This is a beautiful metaphor for Life. When we are in the midst of a storm, it’s very easy for us to be consumed with the struggle happening right in front of us. We lose sight that the challenge is temporary. All aspects of life are impermanent – the good and the bad. The snow is melting, even as it is falling and landing on the ground. The storms are dissipating, even as they swirl around us. 

Every moment of every day, we are moving towards another part of our lives – another milestone, another achievement, another phase of our life, another challenge to overcome… another season. This is all the more reason to remember to pause, to be present, and to breathe.

This moment in your life will never happen again. Feel the solitude of the falling snow in your spirit, and allow the quietness to calm you, even for just a few minutes of the day. 

For soon, this moment, and this storm will simply be a distant memory. 

Wishing everyone a Mindful Monday and a productive, connected week. 

Marissa’s Mindfulness Mantra: I am living my truth. I am living with good intentions. I am working hard to meet my obligations in a moral and ethical manner. I am living with integrity. I am at peace with my choices. I am striving to live from a place of faith rather than fear. I can not change the past, nor can I predict the future. I can only create my best version of Now. Regardless of ultimate outcomes, I have my truth.