Welcoming Spring

Happy first day of spring! May the season of renewal and hope inspire and guide your days.

Spring arrived this morning at 10:46 am. It’s safe to say that we are all looking forward to warmer weather and sunnier days. It’s been a long, dark, and cold winter. In the last two weeks alone, we have experienced unseasonably warm days, snow, heavy rain, strong winds, and everything in between.

A week ago, we were treated to a couple of warm days that gave us a glimpse of the way ahead. The sun shone brightly, and the snow that was piled high around the house melted within three days. I opened up the windows and let the fresh air in. The warm breeze coursed through the house all day long.

The trees are still bare, but around the yard and by the edge of the woods, the daffodils are peeking through. The rose bushes and hydrangeas are emerging from under their snowy blanket. I can already see that I’ll have to prune them back soon, just not yet. Cooler weather is already upon us. Sometimes rushing a new beginning can stall its momentum.

I went outside to sweep the front porch and the back deck, wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt no less. I can once again walk down the steps and into the backyard. The stream is flowing rigorously, and I can see the hawk hunting in the pond next door before flying off and into the tree in front of me. The other morning, the sound of birdsong woke me up, and as I write this, I can hear the wild turkeys calling out to their own.

Nature is coming alive again, and I am sitting here, writing. I am coming alive again, too.

It’s been a long, dark, and cold winter. It is easy to lose hope when the earth is covered with snow, and people in power are behaving badly and with cruelty.

As I sit back and take it all in, I am reminded of the lessons Nature, History, and Literature have taught me and continue to teach me.

History helps me understand how we got to where we are, and the importance of doing what we can without losing hope. There is no such thing as “good old times,” and, more often than not, we choose to learn our lessons the hard way.

Literature helps us to better understand human nature and motivation. Stories take us places we would not be able to visit otherwise. Most importantly, we get the opportunity to inhabit a character’s mind, understand why they navigate life the way they do, and what it takes to overcome life’s challenges. We come to identify with the characters and feel compassion for them.

Then, Nature steps in and through the seasons teaches us that there is a beginning and an end to everything, the good, the bad, and everything in between, that Fall and Winter follow summer, and Spring always follows Winter. Sometimes, there seems to be a delay or a setback, but sooner or later, spring will arrive and gradually put an end to the darkness and cold.

Winter imposes isolation on us. It is a time for reflection, evaluation, and churning of ideas. When spring arrives with the renewed invitation to step out and begin to cultivate what is ours to grow, it is important to remember the words of the poet.

There is only one life
you can call your own
and a thousand others
you can call by any name you want

—David Whyte

The truth is that darkness and light have coexisted since the beginning of time. Our minds may be tempted to focus on the darkness and ugliness, but when we stop noticing the beauty that is also there, ugliness wins. Every day becomes a choice to notice both and do what we can to amplify goodness.

I hope this “season makes a child of you again” and inspires you to see new possibilities and begin to cultivate what is yours to grow.

As always, thank you for being here and reading along.

Yota