I woke early this morning to sound of the snowplow outside my bedroom window. It’s never a peaceful awakening, the loud abrasive sound of the shovel scraping snow off the road and driveway in front of my building jolts me from my peaceful winter slumber hours ahead of my normal waking time. Cozied up under my warm comforter I have no intention of getting out of bed, so I just have to listen to the loud noise and beeping of the plow, feeling my tension peaking…until it finally stops and the peaceful silence of the winter morning returns. Sometimes, not always, I fall back to sleep.
The first few times the snowplow arrived early this winter I found myself extremely irritated, as I value my rest, and even more so now during cold and flu season when sleep is your best defense against illness. I recently moved from sunny California back home to the snowy Utah mountains and almost forgot about those plows and their role in our community. They show up during late and early hours when most of us are at home settled and warm, clearing out the snow and debris and keeping us safe to travel in our cars.
When things in my life that I can’t change or control become frustrating, I try to reframe them in my mind. Like the snowplow- it’s a temporary disruption in my morning that is clearing the way for ease during the rest of my day.
How many other things in life are like the snowplows?
Like waking up a bit earlier in your morning to meditate or journal (when you really love your sleep) to create a more positive tone for the rest of your day. Or dragging yourself to the gym for a workout when you’re super tired, and then feeling energized when you’re done. Or having difficult and sometimes painful conversations with friends, partners or coworkers, which ultimately clear the air and create more authentic relationships.
I think even this crazy, disruptive and challenging pandemic is clearing the path for much needed changes in our social fabric!
Next time you’re irritated by someone or something around you, turn it into a snowplow and figure out how it’s serving you somehow. I’d love to hear your own life is a snowplow stories.
Amie
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