Here on the East Coast of the USA, we are in the middle of a serious snow and ice storm, the kind that slows everything down and makes the world feel smaller and quieter.
Yesterday afternoon, with the sleet coming down, I looked out through our deck and saw a bright red cardinal perched beside the bird feeder. Snow all around. Wind in the trees. Daughter and dog playing in the white below. There he was, steady and ready to eat.
Even when conditions are harsh, even when movement is limited, and visibility is low, life continues. Beauty continues.
Storms have a way of narrowing our focus. They strip things down to essentials. Stay warm. Stay fed (I think I’m beyond the basics on this one!). Everything else can wait.
As you step into this week, especially if things feel heavy or uncertain, I invite you to take inspiration from that cardinal. Do not worry about everything at once. Tend to what matters most right now. Show up where you are. Bring your color to the moment, especially when the world around you feels cold and gray.
“Does the fire of your optimism flare up in the dark?“
– Shawn Phillips
