Nov 29th, 2025 Saturday Snowy
I had an old acquaintance from middle school.
We were classmates back then, and interestingly we were assigned in the same class again in high school. Even more coincidental was that we happened to get into the same college, albeit different majors.
Somehow we lost contact with each other, just like many connections not well-maintained eventually fade away. Fortunately fate renewed our relationship – he found me online and reached out, so we got to have a good chat and make up for the lost ten years.
He is located in a seaside neighborhood near Los Angeles, so naturally weather difference was part of the conversation.
“When it snows there, do you have to shovel before being able to drive?” he asked curiously.
Yes, that is one aspect of living here. At my response, he offered some condolence, “it must be pretty hard. Luckily the weather is constantly like spring here.”
I agree that having blue sky and mild temperature year round can be pleasing. Yet I do not see snow days as a drawback.
I am aware of the challenges that heavy snowstorms pose on city infrastructure and the inconveniences it might cause the citizens, if no advance notice was given or someone willfully ignored their emergency preparation. At the same time, children tend to be very excited about snow days, because these are the only legitimate days that they can be excused from school and be allowed to play at home.
As an adult, how do I respond to snow days?
I believe this is a message that a rest is due. Instead of exerting energy to be productive, it is time to preserve, relax, and look inward.
In agricultural societies, people follow the rhythm of nature – activity level remains high throughout the first eight/nine months, but quiets down in winter, when the land falls asleep in an attempt to restore its vitality for the next cycle. When days are short and sunshine is slim, people bundle up and enjoy the fruits of their labor, patiently waiting for the signal to restart next year.
However, industrialization has disrupted this pattern. Working in artificially lighted spaces enables production at any moment, and staying idle seems “wrong”. Slowing down is viewed as a weakness, either a physical issue to be addressed (i.e. one gets sick) or a moral defect (i.e. why slack off?).
I have heard numerous complaints that folks feel guilty when asking/planning time off, even if they are entitled to plenty of leave hours. Many of them end up getting burnt out, quitting their jobs, or being left to deal with health problems on their own.
Snow days are a reminder that it is perfectly fine to take a break every now and then. After all, life is a long series, not just a single season.