Growing up and into my early 20s, my most vivid memories involve the beach and the ocean. Whether it was sailing, fishing, tubing, snorkelling or just lying on the sand, most of my childhood revolved around the warm waters off the coast of the Florida Keys. I truly believe that saltwater can fix almost any ailment and I love nothing more than watching a storm roll in over the ocean.
But lately, I’ve found myself needing the opposite of sand and sea, warmth, and sun. Weeks before the snow season officially started, the urge to drive to Mt Buffalo in the Victorian high country was so strong that I couldn’t resist. I grabbed my camera and my boyfriend, Danny, and I headed off in hopes of finding some snow so early in the year. We found more ice than snow, but what little there was on the ground made me so happy. I felt like being up on the mountain at that moment was exactly where I needed to be.
Instead of satiating my craving, our late autumn trip only intensified my desire for more snow. I’ve always liked the snow. High school snow days in Maryland with 3ft of snow on the ground were always a blast. Despite snow day fun, I’ve never been fond of the cold or winter in general so this sudden need for snow has left me wondering what it all means.
What does snow symbolise?
My favourite Christmas movie is the 1946 classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. In one of the most pivotal scenes, snow begins to fall as George Bailey begs the angel, Clarence, to bring him back to life. After seeing what life would be like for his wife and kids, and the town they live in if he never existed, George realises how much he loves them and that he indeed did have a wonderful life – even if it took dying to bring him clarity. With his head in his hands and snow falling around him, he’s discovered on the bridge he threw himself off by local police officer, Bert.
Snow is often associated with death and sadness, or hardships and the end of the growing season. But snow can also symbolise transformation and change, providing the time and space needed to rest and recharge before a time of prosperity and growth. Snow is also often portrayed as a blanket enveloping everything it touches as if to keep it safe and secure under its white depths.
In It’s a Wonderful Life, the snow symbolises George’s rebirth and new-found appreciation for the life he had. While I’m not dead and I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, I am going through a period of transformation and change. Stepping back from full-time work to refocus on myself and what I want to be doing has been a big leap of faith in myself and my ability as a professional marketer and communicator. I feel like I’m being drawn to the snow to recharge as I enter an exciting new chapter in my personal and professional development.
