As I read the morning news and the cacophony of chaos these days, I realize that so many people, companies, groups, etc need to make their voices heard for one reason or another. There is no listening and no acknowledgment of hearing one another. Color, lights, motion, all continuous distractions to keep us from actually experiencing our own pleasure or pain and disbelief of the disruptions happening in our own lives as well as those we are closest to. All this noise has brought me today to think about the sound of snow falling.
Not the wind whistling, blizzard kind of snow, or the crunching sound of walking through the snow, but standing outside in a cold winter landscape all alone, and the snow begins to fall, the utter silence created by the blanket that slowly covers the ground. If you listen very carefully you can hear the flakes gently layer onto the snowflakes below. This is a silence that absorbs even the constant ringing that happens in my head. I can think of no other time when silence is so apparent to me when the earth feels like it is acknowledging its need for rest.
If you are a parent, you may also know what this feels like. You are wrestling with an overtired child who refuses to give in to sleep, and suddenly, they go quiet. The need to rest overpowers that tiny body, and they fall into a deep slumber. Suddenly, you hear nothing but the sound of quiet breathing, and you yourself breathe a sigh of relief.
This morning, I find myself imagining a moment in our world where we all hit the exhaustion wall at the same time and are plunged into a deep renewing slumber, that cleanses the body, mind and spirit. We could all awaken with a new gentler perspective and a willingness to give it all another try.
However, just as that snow-blanketing silence only lasts a few moments before new distractions begin, birds begin to sing, leaves rustle and crackle underfoot, or children’s laughter and other joyful noises are heard as they become aware of snowflakes and all the possibilities they can imagine, break the quiet and our minds move on to the next thought.
Even so, that sound of silent snowfall lingers in my soul. A respite I can return to on days like today when silence will not be easily available.
Have a happy day!
Cheryl
The above photo was taken one early morning in March 2010 at a small motel I was staying at outside Yosemite. I awakened to snow falling on the landscape, it made for a magical beginning to another lovely day of photographing Yosemite Valley.
On to the Next Adventure 