Snow is good, and no amount of cynicism will ever change that.
As I became an adult, I watched friends who would once frolic around in the snow slowly transform into bitter complainers who detest any sort of snowy sight. The joyful moment of every student in my elementary school class excitedly running to the window on the day of the season’s first snowfall now exists only in my memory. Since then, that memory has been replaced by a faint communal grumbling sound as my university classmates reach for their car keys before taking a snowy drive home.
As someone who never lost their wintry joy, observing this collective regression into winter-bashing is certainly painful to see, but it’s not surprising. As reported by CNN, a 2010 poll from Nestle reveals that people often grow tired of snow as they get older, with “those older than 35 [being] 58 percent less likely to look forward to snow days as much as they did when they were younger.”
Snow does indeed come with downsides, especially once driving comes into the picture. Snowfall comes with many driving hindrances, including a greater risk of accidents, increased stress and anxiety for drivers, and the potential for delays on the road.
These are all genuine concerns that shouldn’t be invalidated. It’s entirely understandable to dread driving on a snowy day, and it would be silly to argue otherwise. The point here is that there are other defining factors of snow, and basing your entire opinion of snow around the driving situation fails to take into consideration its many benefits.
Many of the snow’s benefits can be found while interacting with it. Building snowmen, having snowball fights, making snow angels, crafting snow cones and making snow forts are just a few examples of fun ways to interact with the wintry weather. Snow doesn’t have to be considered negative just because it’s cold and wet; rather, snow should be considered an endless array of fun-making opportunities that fall from the clouds that just so happen to be cold and wet.
Of course, these are all acts that are commonly associated with children, but other than potential societal expectations, there’s no reason why adults shouldn’t be able to freely frolic in the snow. It’s not considered “weird” for adults to go outside and run around a field kicking a soccer ball around, so it doesn’t make any sense to judge them for having a snowball fight.
Perhaps this negativity towards snow simply comes from an individual’s natural decrease in childlike wonder over time, but this adult cynicism hardly seems like a reason to ignore all the joyful moments that snow can continue to create.
Even for those who still don’t want to play in the snow, its beauty shouldn’t be forgotten. It’s worth appreciating the feeling when intricate, unique snowflakes begin to descend from the sky, and it’s even better when it covers the landscape in a fluffy, shiny, white blanket. This might be a great opportunity to open the blinds and enjoy a hot drink and a book while appreciating the beauty of the snow outside your window. While snow comes with its downsides, there is still so much to appreciate about it. Rather than observing a snowy day with cynicism, focus on the joy and beauty it creates. Children might have the greatest feelings of magic when snow begins to fall, but there’s no reason why adults should stop themselves from running to the window on the day of the first snowfall, too.
The snow may be cold and bitter, but don’t allow that to spread to your heart.
