Pounds gained during winter months? Not really. Watching the weight of winter/spring snow curve and bend blades of grasses and branches that should be easily snapped under pressure. Native perennial plants withstand negative temperatures, fierce windchill’s, heavy snow and still push through til spring/summer arrives.

We as humans are more physiologically complex but would not be able to endure the conditions plants go through. We are even told by meteorologists not to be outside for long periods of time in certain conditions. But plants are out there surviving. Do we survive weight in the forms of circumstances and situations that should appear to crush us? Over the past winter months, I’ve survived the weight of interesting to inapplicable business advice, being burglarized, becoming ill, watching family members slowly deteriorate physically and the re-prioritizing of friendships and acquaintances.

Emotionally, perhaps mentally feels like I should be crushed, but I’m still here, a tad bent and curved because of the weight of it all.

The weight eventually lightens when winter disappears, and the snow eventually melts. Stems fatigued from the last season become compost, beneficial nutrients for soil to infuse the next season of plants. Those stems held the weight of snow from the most fragile part of the plant, the new growth which will need an entire season to have the same stamina and endurance.

The bent, fatigued, curved parts of myself that I sometimes don’t like kept my ability to love, empathize and trust from getting crushed. Remembering that I have survived these experiences gives me the emotional nutrients to continue preparing myself for the next season’s new experiences and growth.