A single snowflake

E19: The power of small is shown in the accumulating weight of a shovel full of weightless flakes.

A gathering and accumulation

Here is the thing. An individual snowflake is almost weightless. Why then, were we in the middle of the big dig?

Mesmerizing

I must have missed the memo. “There is a snow storm coming through,” my husband warned the kids, “make sure you are home before it hits.” Nothing earthshattering in that warning. About par for this time of year in Ontario. The snow started drifting down around 10 pm on Sunday night, creating that eerie UFO landing lighting that you would know if you live around these parts.

Waking up on Monday, however, I realized that when they said a lot of snow, they meant a LOT of snow. It was the light kind of snow, just flakes clinging to the window panes. The wind caused snowdrifts, some three feet deep, burying our walkway with the steps barely visible under the white duvet of snow floating across our neighbourhood.

A frenzied wind whipped the flakes off the rooftops as a cross-current flung it back against the walls. It was mesmerizing to watch the air currents with these tiny snowflakes making the invisible visible as they danced on the wind, like a mini murmuration of starlings.

Once the storm abated, my husband and son went out and started shovelling. It was hard work.

That evening, though, Mother Nature treated us to a most wondrous sunset:

Don’t forget to have fun

I sent the photos to my family, particularly as a reminder to those who are in almost-too-warm climates right now that the cool comes at a cost.

“Why aren’t they putting on their ski clothes and running around and jumping it it?” asked one of the younger members of the family.

“Coz they’re not young free thinkers no more,” replied one aunt. (Ouch, that stung!)

“Saving energy for shoveling! 😄” responded another. (Smart, that one!)

So here is hoping that you find your inner child today and are able to play, do something creative, and enjoy nature!

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A storm like this reminds me that

• It is the compounding of small actions - habits, pennies, ideas - that create big changes.

• The small can make the invisible visible, alerting us to changes around us.

• We may not be able to make a difference by ourselves, but when we have company we find ourselves able to make a bigger impact.

• Snow days are special.

• Even the smallest things have significance.

This is edition 19 of Tilt the Future - answering when serendipity knocks. See you next week!

Karena

PS.

Would you like a backing soundtrack while you read this? Here is an intriguing piece called “Snofnugg (Snowflakes)” from the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra with vocals by Cantus that I found while searching for music for my video of the dancing snowflakes. (h/t Tommy Lee who often includes an accompanying audio clip with his newsletters.)