I think it is safe to say that the Northeast has received a
substantial dose of winter weather this year – snow, sleet, slush, subzero
temperatures. Business and schools
closed. Neighbors unabashedly stripped vulnerable
supermarket shelves in anticipation for the worst. Gas prices went up. General moods went down. Icy roads.
Potholes. Road salt shortages. Lost electricity. Lost heat.
Lost hope.
I turn off the radio and television when unfavorable weather
is forecasted. I do not respond well to
the stress of frantic traffic reports and lethargic play-by-plays by exhausted
news anchors: “Well, Jim, it looks like it is, in fact, snowing. Yes, same as thirty minutes ago. Yup, still snowing. Hold on a moment, I think it’s…yes, still
snowing.” I prefer to ride the wave in
real time. See what all this talk is
about from my own perspective.
I went to work on the worst days - and stayed the whole day. I kept business as usual. I saw no need to succumb to the media
hype. A bit of patience and calm was
enough to get me through it.
Wintery conditions consistently trigger a blooming
collage of memories from my time in St. Petersburg, Russia. Once dormant episodes gradually resurface in
crystal-clear focus. You know, there is a
rhythm, a kind of understood ritual, to getting through the winter there. And it is this consistency and predictability
that eases what could be an otherwise harsh physical experience.
Dressing appropriately
is essential – any loving babushka will tell you that: Boots on, scarf on, coat
on, hat on, gloves on. No chance for the
tricky cold to burrow toward your flesh that way. For my own personal morning commute, once
bundled, I would fling my heavy bag over my shoulder and embark upon the
common-man’s journey - two flights of stairs down to the front door of the
apartment, half-mile walk to the train station, two-minute run down the
escalator, 3-5 minute wait for the train, body slam into a jam-packed train car,
short ride to the next station, sprint to the nearest escalator, second wait,
second – more confident – body slam into a train car, second longer ride, power
walk to the enormous crowd pooled at the foot of the escalators, crowd surf to
the front of the sea of people, five- minute ride to the top of the stairs, short
jog out the front door of the station and a mile and a half march to school. Rinse. Repeat.
I find it difficult to make excuses in the winter after
having this experience. Anyone can get
through it with the right attitude. Respecting this season for what it is - a period of hibernation -
helps greatly. With so few natural
distractions drawing away our attention and physical icy barriers rendering us virtually
immobile, we are forced to sit and reflect.
We are forced to spend time with our families, friends and loved
ones. We are forced to inhabit the home
spaces we have created. We cannot
run. We have to face ourselves and our
choices. Of course, escape is not
impossible. You are just at the mercy of
the elements if you choose to try.
Meditating on ourselves and our personal lives is no easy task. The incredible, palpable level of anxiety reached
by those around me served as perfect evidence of this this year. Luckily, a few sunny days have started to cure
the wide-spread epidemic of winter paranoia.
But please, if the weather turns again before spring, try to respond to
the last gasps of winter with the cool, measured confidence they deserve. Perhaps the season will treat you better as a
result.
Dr. Sparkle
Dr. Sparkle