There are those…

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Out there, in the winter daze, are those who love the brightness, those who really enjoy the freshness of the air. They keep fit by jogging, in shoes with good traction to keep safe in the snow and ice, so they can get out there. Or, these types go for walks to look at the white blanket of snow embracing everything from trees, bushes and lawns to the neighbour’s car and house. While another variety stay inside the coziness of their home, looking through their windows, finding things to appreciate in this time. In soothing calm they watch the sparkling of the snow, soaking in the sense of purity of it all. Maybe the children are playing in it, riding their sleighs down nearby hills, or the newly cleared laneways, if they are long enough, or building snow figures or forts in the yard. They see a kind of cleansing, so much brightness, so much good in this kind of change.

Then some, they see snow as work, as inevitable dirty slush, awkward driving conditions and slow traffic getting to work and back home. They see potential slippery ice, liability issues for business, and they anticipate gloom on the faces of family, neighbours and patrons in their places of work. Instead of the beauty of the light refracting through the irregular shapes and sizes of icicles hanging from the edge of the roof, like icing trimming a cake, they see the chore. The task is, removing these winter stalactites; in an effort to fight the invasion of weather as part of their environment. While there may be the necessary effort of removing icicles from over any walkways and doorways, the pessimist sees the chore as involving the entire building in order to erase the reality of difference. Too bad, so sad.

So what’s the difference between the two experiences? Clearly, it is the compulsive need for control over other things, as opposed to the liberty of embracing the truth. There’s a simple reality; things change, and then those things change, and then; well, you get where I’m going. Things change and fighting them altogether is an exercise in futility and exhaustion. For example, that quiet teenager or friend will inevitably, one day, have an opinion. And guess what, it’s highly likely, it will be somewhat different than your own, if not opposite entirely. Now, let’s not be the type who will point a finger and label others as radical and their opinions out there, just because they see something we don’t.

That’s akin to those who don’t like snow. It’s driven by personal insecurity, a need to fearfully control others, and stuff; the ‘doom and gloom’ approach to life. The need to dictate rather than liberate.

Or, of course there are those who have the ‘make room and bloom’ approach to life; yes, even in the times of snow. There’s a kind of balance here. A ‘let life grow even in the snow,’ kind of rhyme to it all.

The actuality is, Life is a mix, of small things in our own lives we can choose to assert control over, larger things we can help change slowly, or acquire the wisdom to know the difference, and things we adjust to, or should. Things like, politics and news reports will always represent positions which will be unpopular to small sections of complainers. People will always have opinions of their own, no matter what social media tries to influence. And snow will always come, and then go. Valentines Day, is coming next Monday, and there are those you love. So, will this be a day of commercialism, contrived by business, or will it be a day you remember to tell someone special, in some way, you really love them? The trick is: to learn to see the sparkle in the snow; or breath in deep any genuine non- partisan good, happening in political effort; and to appreciate the value of hearing another’s opinion, truly, making the honest effort to understand, while still retaining your own, in informed clarity.

I guess the balance is, “Is it all work?” Yes. “Is that bad?” No. While difference, change, or choice may be uncomfortable for a time, the work is growth for us inside, and that’s always good. So, let’s grow positive. You may think it impossible, but, there are those.

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#editorial #toddgreen