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It’s not even Halloween, but we’ve been socked in by snow for the past two days here in Denver. It’s not that it’s impossible to go outside, but it is a wonderful opportunity to hunker down inside. The class I teach on Wednesdays was canceled yesterday, so I got to spend all day indoors.
Snow days allow us to get caught up on reading, housework, or regular work, but they also present a wonderful opportunity catch up on some of the internal contemplation we may need to do. A counseling client of mine is undoubtedly very happy to have two days off the job she despises, for example, to continue a deeper contemplation of what her next move will be.
Another thing I notice on snow days is that time takes on a whole new dimension. This is also true on vacations, meditation retreats, and other experiences that get us out of the routine, but it is of particular interest when it occurs at home. I find that even when I keep busy with e-mails, writing, reading, preparing lunch, and other routine activities of the day, there are many fewer “landmarks” within the day to mark the passage of time and cue me about what I should do next. With nowhere that I need to go at any particular time, each chapter of the day seems to melt into the next, until I realize it’s 11 p.m. I find this very refreshing.*
I wonder if we all need days like this at home from time to time. Wintry weather can certainly help, but is it necessary? What are your experiences with “snow days”?
*A close cousin of the snow day is the sick day, although, of course, then we are dealing with not feeling good. Still, if we stay home from work with a bad cold (so we don’t feel great, but we’re not confined to bed), it can be a very interesting opportunity to let the rhythm of the day unfold right from the comfort of our own home, not to mention catching up on some rest.
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I am the organist/pianist at a small Presbyterian church which is a job I dearly love. We always have choir practice on Wednesday nites followed by Bible Study. So all in all, this is a 2 hour workday for me-not too shabby in the overall course of things. However, whenever our pastor has a prior commitment and has to cancel choir, I immediately say “Yeah-a snow day!” You’d think I won the lottery! But its really nice to not have to hurry dinner, rush out the door and I especially like to hunker down after dark.