Thankfully for our family, the winter storm decided to wait until after Christmas to show up. It’s only supposed to be 4-8 inches (barely a concern in Minnesota), but we’re all glad we won’t have to drive in it.

Snow is falling in large, fluffy flakes, and looking out the window makes me feel all cozy inside. I’m sitting here in my new Batman pajamas (my friend got me these) with my Batman hoodie over them, feet shoved into my decaying dead penguin slippers (the penguins aren’t decaying; my slippers are… so many holes). It’s the equivalent of a Christmas hangover where all you want to do is sleep.

I think that perhaps mental illness is much like a snowstorm. A blizzard, if you will. All of this crap just comes at you en mass and boxes you in with a wall of snow, piled up so high that you feel you may never see the light of day again. In reality, it’s just a matter of chipping away at the snowdrifts with a shovel.

The metaphor of the shovel can be a variety of things. For some, it might be a relaxing, quiet space to refresh and calm down. Others may have a support system to help them through tough times. Whatever your “shovel” is, just remember that you have the power to dig yourself out. Even if the wall of snow is ten feet high, you can gradually tunnel out. It may take you days, weeks or months, but you can do it.

A blizzard can be terrifying and intimidating. Sometimes, you just have to snuggle under the covers and wait until the snow stops to start digging. Don’t freeze yourself over by fighting the falling snow too soon. Take some time to take care of yourself first. The snow can wait.