West Virginia Snowballs

A few weeks ago, I was hiking in New River Gorge National Park in the mountains of West Virginia. It was a beautiful, rainy day in Appalachia. Throughout the day, I kept noticing these yummy-looking summer berries amongst the brush. Since I wasn't familiar with the area and its flora, I didn't want to risk making myself sick, but they continued to entice me throughout the day.

After a great day of exploring, I left the park. Driving through winding, empty roads. I finally came to the small town of Hinton, West Virginia. I was hungry and came across a small restaurant. As I stood outside and placed my order, I noticed there were a lot of New Orleans-themed meals on the menu. I mentioned I was from New Orleans and the person taking my order lit up. She was too! We had a wonderful conversation about our hometown, filled with laughter and warmth that comes from commonality.

I was sitting on their front porch, waiting for my meal, when she came out to give me a unique New Orleans treat: a Snowball! It's a cup of (very uniquely) shaved ice doused in flavored syrup. She'd been working on flavor and consistency and wanted to test it out on a local. When she told me the flavor of the snowball, I lit up.

She'd used those delectable wild berries found in the woods nearby! I was so wonderfully surprised. It tasted delicious. And knowing where it came from made it even sweeter.

This is a great reminder about desire and detachment. Many worldviews say that desire is the root of all suffering. The Vedic worldview is that our attachment to desire is the root of all suffering. Desires are normal and relevant, as long as we aren't attached to how they play out and if/when they are achieved.

I had a feeling I'd get those berries, but I wasn't concerned about how or when. In letting go of the need to know, I got those berries in the most unique and familiar way I possibly could.

Let go and see what happens.