Heaven's White Ice Cream

I love shoveling snow! Yes, you read that right. I said, I love shoveling snow!

It makes my back hurt and my armpits sweat, but it is so white! To be able to sweat in a substance that is cold, crisp, and clean is like playing in heaven’s ice cream. God sends us the special treat every so often and if you are lucky enough to have a snow dog (mine is part husky) then you get to experience the joy firsthand without me trying to explain my rationale.

My husky will forego his breakfast because he is too excited to get outside and stick his nose in the white fluff, roll around in it, and make the first fresh tracks. His joy of the white substance may rival mine. On the other hand, I do need my coffee first.

Did I mention it is great exercise? It’s ironic that when I was in high school and college, I used to do winter workouts indoors. My parents always tried to get me to shovel snow for exercise but because it wasn’t a workout led by a coach, or a workout I was paying for, I didn’t think it really counted. Going out to shovel snow would only delay my responsibility (or should I say obsession) that I would still have to get in that so-called workout.

You know what made me love shoveling the snow? Ripping my foot off when I was 24. When you spend years in recovery and years in pain it is amazing how you grow to appreciate the things you once overlooked. Shoveling snow is just another blessing that has come out of an injury that threatened to take my right foot.

I live in Colorado and it never ceases to amaze me all the people who complain about snow and cold weather. I suppose if I had two feet in normal working order I would feel the same, but I don’t so I just smile and say, very irritatingly, “I love snow!” I usually get a roll of the eyes, but I just keep smiling.

What is something today that you can find joy in that you have been overlooking for the past several years, decades, or lifetime? Look for it. The happiness in your life is largely determined by your attitude… is the snow in your life Heaven’s white ice cream or the cold wet stuff that makes a dog stink? Which color of lenses will you put on today? You get to choose. My lenses are actually blue!