Finding Your Own Path Through Swirling Snowflakes

The first official snowflakes have fallen.

While I’m not a big fan of winter, or the cold (as I have Raynaud’s and my fingers and toes like to turn purple in frigid conditions), I do like the way snowflakes look as they sprinkle out of the sky.

Snow reminds me of my childhood. I was born in the Texas panhandle, and needless to say, we had plenty of the white stuff during the winters. I loved building snowmen, eating snow ice cream, and making snow angels. 

Snow isn’t quite as much fun when you’re older. First, there’s cleaning the walkways, driving on slick streets, and, of course, all the wet clothes to wash when your kids run out to play.

But, I do enjoy watching the snow fall, leaving behind a world that’s pristine and white.

Snowflakes have three basic ingredients: ice crystals, water vapor and dust.

Yet, while all snowflakes are made of the same components — and are all six-sided — it’s not likely you will ever see two the same.  

In fact, scientists estimate the chances of two snowflakes being exactly alike are about one in one million trillion according to the National Center for Families Learning.

So why do snowflakes — even from the same clouds — end up being so different?

As snowflakes tumble through the air — swirling and spiraling — they take different paths to the ground. Each snowflake falls and floats through clouds with different temperatures and moisture levels, which shapes each snowflake in a unique way, says the National Center for Families Learning.

As I watched the first snowflakes drift down from the sky, I was reminded that we all have our own paths to take in life.

We each tumble and whirl in our own ways, but it’s ultimately our individual routes that help shape who we become.

We need to appreciate and respect the journeys of those around us. And, we’ve always got to remember that even though we’re different — just like the snowflakes — we’re alike in a lot of ways, too.

I hope when my children are grown, and look up at the sky to see the snowflakes fall, they will always think of me.

Sometimes we work so hard to make sure our children fit in, but we can’t be afraid to shine light on exactly what makes them different.

Because, therein lies the beauty.

It’s our differences — such as character, strengths and abilities — that make us stand out from the others.

We all shine and sparkle in our own ways; you just have to be brave enough to find and take your own path.

Will it be a white Christmas? It looks like they’re calling for rain. But, regardless, I’ll be looking out my window, waiting for the next snow, and the hope it brings.