Winter Wonderland

    During the snowstorm, I woke up early and experienced the most beautiful morning despite the cold. The sun was rising over the water, and everything felt calm and still. It was slightly windy, but peaceful, and all I could hear was the snow crunching beneath my feet as I walked. The ground was completely covered in white, icy snow. The bare tree limbs were coated in ice, which glistened when the sunlight hit them. It was so cold that morning that I could see my breath, and water vapor was rising off the lake. There was so much vapor that it appeared white, making the lake look as if it, too, were blanketed in snow. The combination of the white water vapor, ice covered trees, and snow-covered ground created a magical, almost unreal setting. Being outside in that moment made me slow down and fully take in my surroundings.

    After walking around for a while with my dog, I heard splashing in the distance. A group of ducks were swimming around in the pond, repeatedly dipping beneath the surface in search of food. I could not imagine how cold the water must have been, especially compared to the freezing air. When it began snowing again, I noticed about ten deer gathered beneath a tree, picking at the remaining leaves. It looked as though they were taking shelter together from the falling snow. Seeing wildlife adapt to such harsh conditions made me reflect on how resilient animals are, even when the environment is uncomfortable. I felt grateful to witness these moments and to experience nature in such a quiet and untouched state. This morning reminded me how grounding it can be to step outside and simply observe nature.