As I lay here, I feel a slightly chilly breeze from the window above my head. With three layers of blankets upon me, the breeze is nice, welcoming in a way. The first snowfall of the year has come and as I type this, fluffy snowflakes continue to make their journey down from the sky. If you haven’t watched the snowfall during the quiet of the night, I recommend it. There’s something magical about it, the way the snow glistens even in darkness, ever so silent. It pulls me in, the beauty of it. While everything is quiet and sleeping, I’m watching the snowfall and soaking in the peacefulness that comes with it. Snow is something many people dislike, hate even. I’m not going to lie, I was that person. I liked the first snowfall and that was it. Snow meant cold and I do not like cold. But, as I grow older, the beauty of snow has become more apparent. I first witnessed the beauty of the snow as a child. When winter came, the forest became blanketed by snow turning my home into a winter wonderland. To get to my family home you would have to pass over a snow-covered bridge, the stream frozen over and a canopy of trees with big fluffy snow draped over the driveway. Think Narnia. Magical. Whimsical. Peaceful. The forest during wintertime is by far one of the most magical things to witness. Where I live now is quite different. I am no longer surrounded by tree canopy but instead in a sleepy little neighborhood. While I may have fewer trees around me, the snow does what it does best. Transforms this sleepy little neighborhood into something magical. Calm. Peaceful. Take a peek outside during the night while snowflakes are journeying down from the sky and soak in that magic. You won’t regret it.

Sleep well, my friends.

Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity – Novala Takemoto.