So up here in Rexburg, it snows a lot, and this week has been no exception. I had my first experience shoveling a sidewalk last night, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Turns out no matter how much you scoop and scrape, you'll never get it all off. (I found out later we had a bucket of salt specifically for that purpose. Go figure, huh?)
Anyways, yesterday I had a 9:00 shift at the writing center, where I've been working since last semester. That might sound miserable, but the shift was only an hour long, and besides, I really enjoy the work there. I had my science class at 10:15 in a building nearby, so at 10:00 I clocked out and headed to class. The writing center is located on the 2nd floor of the library, which doesn't usually see a lot of traffic. The first floor, on the other hand, was pretty crowded, since most students were headed to and from class, and the library is a nice, warm shortcut across campus.
I made it out the front doors without a problem and started walking to the science building. As I looked around, I noticed a woman who was not walking on the sidewalk, but rather making footprints in the snow. At first I thought she was trying to save two seconds on her commute by cutting through the grass, but she seemed to be walking in circles. She was smiling and laughing, almost like a child. She was an older woman with graying hair and dressed like a teacher, though I couldn't figure out why a professor would be making snow tracks.
The first thought that crossed my mind was that she was a few sandwiches short of a picnic, but though I tried, I couldn't see in her face any sign of mental problems. She lay down and started making a snow angel (though there wasn't really enough snow for that yet), and then I passed her, trying not to look back. What could be wrong with her? I thought to myself.
As I entered the building and started climbing the stairs, a thought occurred to me: Why do you think something's wrong with her? As I thought about it, I realized I really didn't have a reason to think there was. So she liked the snow. Doesn't everyone, to some degree? Little kids make snow tracks and snow angels all the time. Why can't grown people do the same?
In today's society, we're all expected to 'act our age.' And certainly there are times when being professional is critical. But other times, maybe more than we realize, is there really anything wrong about returning to the simple joys of childhood? Growing up doesn't have to be accompanied by growing cold, dull, and lifeless. There'll be plenty of time for that when we're dead. Is it wrong to be awestruck by a sunset or raindrops on water or crashing waves or a fresh coat of snow? There was nothing wrong with that woman outside the library; if anything, there was something wrong with me. For it was I who had lost sight of the simple things that can bring us joy if we let them. The world is full of problems. Why not take a moment to enjoy the good things, no matter how small, that happen to come our way?
