FRESH

Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change.  This is the rhythm of living.  Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope.  And out of hope, progress.  BRUCE BARTON

Finally the crunch of ice, snow, and slush under my boots as I walk to the train.  Dozens of unique footprints pattern the sidewalk from the morning commute.  The mixed frozen precipitation of the past four days has ceased and the temperature has remained low enough to preserve a canvas of white across the city.  The scene has resembled a Christmas card of late, a welcomed site, bolstering faith in natures four season balance which seems less and less predictable as the years go by.  As far as I'm concerned, snow is a part of life.  Though I'm many years removed from active winter sporting, the element is essential in my concept of a year.  I very much appreciate warm climates, but the variety of seasons is what makes each special.  What kind of life would be with no rain to counterbalance the dry seasons?  

Variety is vital in our lives, it enables growth. 

The older I get the more I appreciate new experiences,  the more I value exposure to original people, original music, film, art, thinking.  The patterns of the masses become more predictable as the follow the follower mentality continues to spread.  The internet and its social tentacles have streamlined popular thought and opinion into the simplest and fastest feed in history.  Word literally cannot travel faster than it does today.  Each member of the first world has a supercomputer in their pocket or handbag.  Every typed word, every site visited, all content explored now quantifiable should it be of interest to anyone for commercial or political reasons.  All thoughts and interests now calculated to absolutely understand the consumer/citizen.

How refreshing it is to meet people of unique and original taste, people who value the subtle differences found on the road less traveled.  Whether you ski or not, you must acknowledge the special circumstances required to generate snow.  You must appreciate what a rare occurrence it is, out of 365 days it might snow 20-30 times in a region known for it.  

Things rare are special.

When you hear about an up and coming athlete referred to as "a special talent" it means they have more than outstanding fundamentals.  A human being is born with characteristics different than every other person who has ever lived.  From appearance to fingerprints to motor skills, we are blessed with tools unique from everyone we will ever meet.  Only through the passage of time, exploring ourselves and our interests, do we discover who we are and what we're best equipped to do.  If you spend your time trying to be something or someone you're not, you'll end up being no one at all.  Take the gifts and skills you were blessed with and do something with them, big or small.  Make an impression, be yourself, present a fresh perspective.

They say no two snowflakes are alike.  
The same goes for us.  

Forget all you know about yourself; forget all you have ever thought about yourself; we are going to start as if we knew nothing.  It rained last night heavily; and now the skies are beginning to clear; it is a new fresh day. Let us start on our journey together with all the remembrance of yesterday left behind - and begin to understand ourselves for the first time.  JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI