Digging out

Here in groovy Denver, we’ve just experienced a mad dump of snow. The record keepers say it was the fourth-largest storm the region has ever seen.

Vehicles are covered. Streets are empty. Grocery shelves are bare.

So, I’m at home. Digging out my car. Connecting the flakes. Looking for meaning in the mundane.

Remember, I’m from Miami Beach. And though I’ve lived in some scary snowy places—Chicago, Central New York, and now Colorado—I lack certain skills for digging out.

But a good metaphor? That I can’t pass up.

So, whether our latest trench is made of heavy, mashed-potatoes snow, or of our own negative self-talk, here are a few ways we might alleviate the back-breaking work that makes ease elusive.

Turn off traction control. Tech features that are designed to make life easier or safer aren’t always useful. It may seem counterintuitive, but all of the wheels of our lives will turn more easily if we manage them manually and experience the risk.

Keep it low and slow. Whenever I’m stuck, it’s tempting to rush my exit. Whether leaving a job or preparing for a breakup with a friend or lover or member of the family, it’s best to find a low gear and accelerate out slowly. If we spin our wheels too fast, the holes only get deeper.

Check the pipes. If we’re lucky enough to be on the road during a storm, experts say to check the exhaust pipes every now and then. If they’re clogged, poison can seep into the car. So. Duh. That’s our reminder to breathe.

Wait for the melt. After reading my latest blog post, my friend Tom called with a brilliant idea for how I—how we all—might end our suffering. He suggested that by softening, we might make room for ease. As I watch the snow on my deck, and my driveway cover begins to melt, I’m glad I didn’t shovel it all away. There’s beauty in the slush. And soon it will all be gone.

Even the best driver can't predict what might happen on slick roads. Nor can we control tomorrow.

But the snow will melt.

The deep trench will shallow.

And spring will be here soon.