The weather this week was so refreshing. One or more cold
fronts rolled through town with some storms in tow, knocking the temperatures
well below the 35-60⁰ days we’ve had during the last few months. With apologies
to all the southerners and coastal-ites, a 5⁰ night followed by a 14⁰ day felt wonderful.
I’m like those seeds that don’t start opening in spring until they’ve been good
and frozen. Now when spring comes around, I’ll feel like we’ve actually had
some winter first.
Plus, it snowed. [Sigh of contentment.]
That meant (this being Virginia and not Utah) classes were
canceled. The storms managed to coincide almost exactly with my class schedule.
Monday night: cancelled. All of Tuesday: canceled. Thursday morning before
10:00: canceled. I spent Tuesday morning shoveling the driveway.
Also, my Wednesday night class was replaced with a 20-minute
Operating Agreement conference with my professor. So except for one make-up
class that took place Friday morning, the week was like an extra winter break.
For me, it was also about as productive as winter break. I
simply did not want to tackle the homework, reading, and research in my “to do”
pile, so I didn’t get much done.
In a way I was feeling like the weather: cold, white, and
closed in. By Saturday night, I was wrapped up in an icy layer of stress-and-care-avoidance
(with a touch of stir-crazy) and in need of some melting.
Almost by instinct, I turned on a talk from General
Conference and pulled out a book of artwork by James C. Christensen.
The Conference talk was a small way to reach out for some
perspective; a means of melting the stiffness that was skewing my view of my
current situation and correcting my focus. The Gospel is good for that.
The book of artwork was for humor.
A friend of mine recently shared her thoughts on the use of
humor as a means of easing stress and releasing pressure. That’s what humor
does for me. When I’m feeling stiff and cold, humor reminds me not to take
things too seriously.
So, melting accomplished. It’s amazing what some whisperings
from the Spirit and a little whimsy will do.
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