The Magic, Mischief, and Memories That Arrive With Every Snow Flake
Snow has a way of stirring something deep and childlike in us. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores why winter storms spark such emotion—and why the memories linger long after the drifts melt.
About a week before heavy snow, weather people get excited and blanket the TV with predictions. I start planning a fire in the fireplace.
What is it about snow that seems to stir emotions? You do not see people getting hyped about rain, and sunshine is so common that we do not really celebrate it either. But snow seems to bring out the kid in all of us.
These flakes are icy cold, deceptively so, and startling against bare skin. You trudge along, swaddled in so many layers that movement feels impossible. Each garment sports a slick coating, sending you sliding, risking falls, and repeatedly grounding you. Then there are the boots, heavy as anvils, and your fingers trapped in mittens. Who invented mittens? Did they ever consider I might want to use a finger? To do so, you risk frostbite. No, thank you.
Still, I look forward to snow. Our weatherman measures snow depth with a giant yardstick. Guess the depth before he measures and win a prize. It is fun to guess.
You are always hoping for wet snow so you can build a snowman. If it is really good snow and just the right amount of wetness, you can even build a real igloo. Only once did our neighborhood get to experience this. After an unusually deep snowfall on a very cold Midwestern day, everyone pitched in, rolling big snowballs and shaping blocks until we had a real igloo in someone’s yard. Three kids could huddle in it at once. The memory stands out for how everyone worked together, not just for the rare weather.
Snowball fights are a blast and get you truly wet. Garbage can lids serve as shields, but neighbors dislike it when their lids end up scattered and unreturned. Sorting out whose lid is whose is always an issue. Oh well.
Remembering playing in the snow is almost as fun as doing it again. I do not miss the cold Midwest wind that cuts through you like a knife, or the deep snowdrifts that soak you head to toe, or the snowball fights that end in tears. I do miss holding the warm cup of hot chocolate my mother had ready in the kitchen.
Want to explore more about nostalgia, weather, and emotional well‑being? Visit Psychology Today’s insights on how weather affects emotions and Greater Good’s research on how shared experiences build connection.
If this reflection stirs memories or inspires you to reconnect with comfort, warmth, or emotional grounding this winter, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support resilience, balance, and well‑being.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
