There’s a major winter storm bracing down on a large portion of the country. From Seattle to Starkville, Oklahoma to Ohio, and lots of other places around the continental US, the forecast is calling for severe weather in the form of ice, freezing rain, snow, and bitter, cold temperatures. It’s nothing new if you live North of the Mason/Dixon line but for those in the deep South, they get this kind of weather once or twice every 5 years so they just aren’t prepared for it.
If you’re a fan of winter, you love it. Skiers envision more opportunities on the slopes. Snowplow owners are seeing dollar signs. Tow truck drivers will be busy pulling wayward drivers from snowbanks all around town. There are Mom’s who already have their kid’s snowsuit and knit hats laid out so they can be among the first in the neighborhood to have the snowman built.
If you hate winter, you’re just going to have to put on a fresh pair of flannel pajamas and stare out the window, dreaming of warmer days coming. 6 weeks doesn’t seem like that long to wait, does it?
The Meteorologist and The Man in the Mirror
Your local meteorologists have been tracking the storms and will lay out plans for what to expect. The forecast for someone who hates winter is going to sound a heck of a lot different than someone who just booked a ski trip, or bought a new snow-blower, or wants to catch up on that last season of The Sopranos or Better Call Saul. Some people love a good “Snow Day” off school or work. That same forecast for a golfer or gardener is going to bring misery, pain, and frustration.
Whether Mother Nature actually shows up and dumps ice or snow in your town or ends up bypassing your city completely might impact your plans, but it shouldn’t dictate your attitude? You’re up now reading this today and while it might be snowing sideways outside or it could be sunny and calm, what’s the forecast in your mind, right now?
Do you have power and heat? Can you make yourself a hot cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea? Do you have loved ones nearby, sheltering from the storm alongside you?
Can you still make a phone call to your parents, children, or clients to check in and say hello? A good phone call might provide more warmth and comfort to someone than a heated blanket or a roaring fireplace.
Will you be able to send a few texts, emails, or social media messages to earn some top of mind awareness? Add a few comments to someone’s social posting and know that it just might be the little bit of sunshine they needed today.
Wave at your neighbors when you’re out shoveling snow. Say hello to someone you pass on the street when you take the dog for a walk. If you’re lucky enough to be out on the streets and not snowed in like they predicted, buy the coffee for the car behind you in line at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.
Sure, the weather people with their Double Doppler and great green screen skills might be calling for snow, sleet, and severe low temps, but that’s no reason you can’t come up with your own forecast. If you look at it the right way, there could be a lot of opportunities for building relationships, solving problems, and having fun are coming your way.