The miracle of snow

The first words of 2026. They feel as precious and as heavy as the newly fallen snow blanket over the trees. An aspiration.A dream come true. A moment to look forward to. A moment of missing the purity of this magic colour cleansing the entire environment and offering a chance to take a deep breath, take in the clean air too, inhale the wet flakes and let your hair wear the natural mask of snow for a little while.

We might not know how to be happy about this snow. We simply lost the exercise, the boldness we shared many years ago when all we knew was how to throw ourselves into the snow from morning till dark hours, coming back home with frosted clothes, shoes and hands of a colour we did not recognize anymore, red towards purple. No quality of gloves could protect us at that time by how engaged we were with being in the snow and playing. Playing innocently and taking in all the beauty of the winters we took for granted. We did not know years without. We kept looking for the first flakes of the season and that was the grand opening of a never ending pure joy. Being one with the natural phenomena and enduring this joy no matter how challenging it was. The winters of my childhood did not constantly with hot radiators, or with mountain gear. There “gear” was handmade from wool, by a skilled neighbour or auntie or a grandmother. The wool was hundred percent traceable to the shepherds that grew the herds in the mountains. We simply had everything because sustainable was not a word, a trend,an economy. It was a natural way of living passed on from generation to generation ,that we never even considered to challenge.

Until we have started having options. Newness. More. And more.Until the gates have been opened to all of us and there was this newly discovered freedom that we knew it was aspirational too. We simply did not know as kids that one day we can benefit and live through it. Learn to live through it still with joy, still with enthusiasm, with gratitude for hot water, for hot radiators, for other things that counted equally.

The first words of 2026. A bit heavy perhaps on the fir tree branch. Allowing the holidays to take over and surrendering completely into sleep, deep rest and more dreaming, while enjoying time with family whenever possible.

A promise made prior to holidays was to read a lot. Thanks goodness I have not defined what a lot meant. The books I chose gave me a lot to surrender to even further. No easy task.

Just a few takes on what moved me this season.

Amongst Women, John McGahern

A novel recommended by an Irish actor, sadly I cannot remember who mentioned it now. A novel about family, leaving home for a better life, escaping home to forget the past, and a father figure as solid as an oak tree not because he has been right all the time , perhaps because the heaviness of his presence was very hard to even diminish. An oak who became an anchor, a compass to sisters and brothers in one way or another and had their lives revolve around him. Powerful storytelling. I have read this novel on the plane, in one take, almost not being able to breath properly. A book I cannot lend someone else simply because it is quite scribbled on and marked with an old fashion pencil.

I am so looking forward to watch the movie on the big screen soon. I have been watching the cast and so many interviews recently, I am mesmerised already by the performances.I simply had to understand the story first hand by connecting with the book. This is a movie I did not want to welcome unprepared. I have chosen to listen to the audible version read magnificently by Ell Potter. There is also a new version read by the actor interpreting Agnes in the movie, Jess Buckley and I would attempt a second listening once the book has been already sinked in deeply in my heart.

Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell

Listening to a good interpretation, it is so moving. I took my time, precisely as I mentioned, to surrender to its pace every early morning, from 5am till about 7am. I had to repeat few chapters as I felt so bad when I would miss some words, or a gasp,or a description of a leaf, of a tree moving side by side with all emotions, of a ghost running on the street. Even if I would love to write or inspire you to listen to this book, my words will fail terribly. I do wish you pick up any audible version and simply dive in.You will soon understand why this book is invaluable. The story, the realness of the story, so relatable to any century in fact, to any age, the struggle of any young family to make a nest within the confinements of the older family rules and agreements, the power of love, the impact of separation and the tragedy of loosing a child when no one saw it coming, not even the clairvoyant. The sharp brush of the destiny that everyone had to face suddenly and try to make some sense of it , to continue living with that. A work of art as classic and contemporary as its main characters work.

Easy to loose sleep over this masterpiece, and definitely eager to wake up every single morning to deep dive into its unraveling. The movie promises no less than a powerful master stroke.

And there is the new book I have started, an exploration of Matthew McConnaughey into the cadence of poems and prayers.

(Somehow the links are not easy to attach today, apologies).

I have recently listened to his interview with Adriana Trigiani on her podcast, “You are what you read”, and it has been always my pleasure to follow his evolution and his life philosophy. I look forward to continue surrendering into his raw way of expressing his emotions not through acting, but writing, this time in poems and prayers.

S3:Episode 31, Adriana Trigiani’s Podcast

While still early in the book,I would rather talk about an advice that Matthew mentioned and I highly appreciated. It got me realigning some of my directions, on redirecting my compass. Not because it was misaligned, more in terms or acknowledging out loud to myself that this is a compass I admire and I would like to further work on it. Matthew talks about his non-negotiable life principles that guide his choices and decisions. Among them he lists his family and his spirituality, his faith, authenticity and responsibility. I loved the way he talked about some of these “you take these key non-negotiables with”. They are all together. Everywhere. In everything you do.

His gentle reminder on how he holds up through life gave me enough food for life whenever I would like to measure where I stand, which should be every day. Food for thought and for soul, to know that I can determine and hold onto key non-negotiable principles. Definitely not always easy to hold all of them together, and yet, the most important take away is that I have to try. And that is my compass.

I hope dear friends that you are sailing smoothly into 2026.

May you feel inspired, motivated to change towards what fills you heart to the fullest.

Thank you. So much gratitude for sharing this insights with every one of you.