Spring: A Time to Renew Your Spirit

“Blossom by blossom the spring begins.”
–Algeron Charles Swinburne

Lately, several people back home in Southern California have asked me how I “survived” my first winter in Vancouver.

I respond by telling them that honestly, it wasn’t that bad.

Granted, it was a pretty mild winter, but needless to say, I’m happy to see the first spring flowers blooming as I stroll my neighborhood in the early evenings of these longer days.

Now that I live in a part of the world that has “seasons,” it really helps me understand why people are so excited when those first flowers start blooming – I’ve found that I’m one of those happy people now too!

As a matter of fact, in Southern California, the weather tends not to change too significantly throughout the year, so I don’t think I ever quite appreciated the spring months as I much as I’ve found myself doing here in Vancouver.

Sure, my first winter was fairly mild, but I know that for some, winters can be brutal.

To name a few, it can mean daily inconveniences like not being able to back out of your driveway because there’s too much snow in the way, or not being able to get to work on time (or at all) due to inclement weather, or having to throw layer upon layer on your body, head, and hands before stepping outside.

In general, the winter is just harder, but it also makes me think of this quote by Anne Bradstreet:

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.”

Figuratively speaking, maybe your “winter” was rough this year – perhaps you experienced obstacles and challenges in your health, relationships, socially, professionally, etc., but, consider this…

Just as we experience each day getting a little longer, hear the birds chirping, and watch each blossom show us its beauty, let’s stop for a minute, shall we, and take it all in?

We take it all in now because soon the blooming plants, trees, and chirping birds will feel commonplace. It’s just what happens. We get used to it.

We’re less likely to take notice and thus appreciate the beauty of a new season at that point, so I urge you today and in these early days of spring, to notice the new, appreciate each small and beautiful sight, and consider how you can use the beginning of this season to renew your own spirit, whatever that looks like for you.

Here’s what I suggest:

Take your journal, pen, and yourself on a stroll to a local park, find a bench with a nice view, and consider these questions:

• What do you hope for yourself this spring?
• How can you take advantage of the energy this season brings and infuse it into your life?
• How will you keep this vigor up and continue to make progress after the newness and excitement subsides?

About that last question, this one’s important – be sure to have systems in place so that you keep moving forward.

For example, if you’re planning on decluttering your entire home this spring, including bedrooms, closets, cabinets, attics, and basements, it’s going to take some time.

This means you’ll have to make regular time to do it and that means scheduling it in and sticking to it for the next several weeks or months.

The same is true for your health endeavors – remember that thriving health, like a decluttered home, doesn’t happen in one miraculous event; rather the work you do little by little over regular, dedicated time is how you’ll make meaningful progress that you’re proud of.

So, as we welcome spring, welcome too your excitement about not only what you want to get done this season, but who you want and need to become in order to move forward on what’s important to you in these coming months.

Happy Spring!

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