Sun, Snow & Someone You Know

Apparently being called a snowflake is an insult. Something about being too delicate, easily offended or something like that. I'm probably considered a snowflake by some, just plain flaky by others. But I've learned some things about these molecular marvels that makes me proud to be associated with them.

Dr. Ken Libbrecht is a physics professor who trained under Einstein's instructor in solar astronomy. He focused his entire career on studying our celestial fireball; Our Sun, so massive it could house a million Earth's. A million Earths. Unfathomable. The images below are some of the closest we've ever taken. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has been sending images and information for over a decade. During that time the Professor was advancing his career in the field. But then something happened.

One day, Dr. Libbrecht got curious. He stopped staring up and out into the cosmos via satellites and telescope and began peering intently down into a microscope to study, of all things, snowflakes.

He has become THE snowflake expert, an artist and an author having written numurous books. In 2013 he was a consultant on the movie Frozen. How's that for a career change?

The picture on the left shows the birth of a snowflake. It starts with an anchor, a collection of molecules that allows vapor to cling and form crystals. I thought it looked a lot like a dandelion seed.

Dr. Libbrecht discovered that humidity and temperature altered everything about the growing flake. Over time he learned how to manipulate these elements to grow his own "designer" snowflakes.

Still curious, the doctor set out to do the impossible; Create identical snowflakes.

He found within a strictly controlled environment he could. Amazing.

He commented on how strange it is that people always ask if it's true that no two snowflakes are alike.

"It's silly," he says pointing out the obvious, "no two trees are alike, no two grains of sand are the same." I thought about all the things that cause every tree to be different; where they grow, what's planted next to it, climate. So many complex variables that contribute to the one of a kindness of everything in nature.

Then the video host said something that stunned me. "If a pair of twin snowflakes are growing too close together, they end up competing for moisture between them, stunting both of their growths." My mind exploded.

I had to pause the video.

I couldn't believe my eyes or ears.

I hadn't been looking for a visual lesson regarding the importance of boundaries in my life, but there it was.

A malformed snowflake.

It took me a minute to snap out of it, the magnification seeming to make the flakes yell the message. This is what it looks like.

Co-dependency, crystalized.

The snowflake science echoed conclusions from another study. The research was prompted by a group of doctors in the 80's, who noticed that patients who endured similar experiences in childhood, displayed consistent health outcomes as adults. Dr. Robert Boch, past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, concludes the research has unconvered, "the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today."

A questionnaire was created to test their hypothesis. It was given to over 17,000 participants. They were asked ten questions about what they called Adverse Childhood Experiences or (A.C.E.). The questions are yes and no. Simple, but not easy. You can take it below. I have to warn you, the nature of some questions may be triggering. Having said that, I do believe everyone should take it.

A.C.E. Exam

1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? or Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?

2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? or Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?

3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? or Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?

4. Did you often or very often feel that … No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? or Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?

5. Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?

6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?

7. Was your mother or stepmother: Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? or Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or Ever repeatedly hit at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?

8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic or who used street drugs?

9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?

10. Did a household member go to prison?

Not easy right?

It's hard to look at these things.

These are the secrets.

The things we don't talk about

The things that are killing us.

Our secrets are killing us.

Risk of lung and heart disease, every kind of cancer and diabetes all increase in relation to the number of adverse experiences.

But the most impacted organ from ACE's, the brain, has been separated from it's function in the body. We don't think of mental illness as a condition of the brain. Anxiety, depression, addiction, suicidal behavior, have been categorized by many as a condition of character, an excuse, a lack of self-control. And yet the science offers a much different explanation.

Toxic stress can disrupt organ, tissue and brain development. Over time this can limit a person's ability to process information, make decisions, interact with others, and regulate emotions. The brain is short circuited by the overload. Things get flooded that shouldn't. Things don't connect that should. And yet as Dr. Boch points out,

"The term (mental illness) has allowed some to propose that people with mental health issues should just “readjust” their attitudes or thinking or moods, and heal themselves."

It doesn't make sense. We don’t expect someone with heart failure to adjust their attitude and chase away the heart disease. We don't shame a person who goes to physical therapy or takes medication after a heart attack. But side-eyes and raised brows still accompany admissions of counseling, medication or prioritizing self care

Prince Harry and Oprah have created a series called, "The Me You Can't See." They are doing their part to reframe how people think about mental health. Harry implores us for understanding. "The question shouldn't be,

"What's wrong with you?' he says,

but "'What happened to you?'"

Changing the question changes everything.

The outcome of an actual snowflake is the result of all the variables that impacts it on it's way to becoming.

No different than us. My hope, as flakey as it may sound, is to offer grac

I don't know if any folks who use snowflake as an insult made it to the end of this article, but if you did, you may want to rethink it. It doesn't carry any weight.