Spring Has Sprung!

     I woke up this morning to birds chirping through my open window.  Just another sign that Spring has arrived.  If you're anything like me, Winter is just not your season.  While it's novel at first with being able to cozy up to the fire and wear your comfy, well-worn sweats, after awhile you yearn for the warmth that comes in Spring.  Buds on the trees and flowering bulbs definitely have a way of cheering me up and giving me new life.  I can get back to walking outside so I can soak in the sights and sounds of nature coming alive.  The only downside to Spring for me is the rain.  While I realize that it is essential for refilling our lakes and rivers as well as hydrating the plants and wildlife, I absolutely prefer the sun.  If I wake up in the morning with the sun shining into my bedroom, I start out the day in a happy mood.  The Vitamin D is well known for that effect as well as preventing disease, lowering blood pressure and improving our overall mental health.  

    I think we all flip the mental switch into Spring-mode at Daylight Savings Time, which is about a week before Spring officially arrives.  Unfortunately, during this Spring-forward, we lose a precious hour of sleep.  It doesn't seem like a big deal but it definitely throws off the circadian rhythm in our bodies.  However, the extra hour of daylight, once recovered, is well worth it since we get to enjoy the longer days.

    This time of year is not only an awakening of our hibernating plants and animals but also a time for us to wake up and take stock of how our year has progressed and where we are with the goals we set.  How can we take advantage of this "fresh start" and make the best out of the months to come?  Letting in some fresh air, along with grabbing your favorite pen, a journal and a cup of coffee, get comfortable and allow yourself some time to reflect.  I actually like to go outside onto my covered patio and curl up on our cozy sofa.  I recommend scheduling some uninterrupted time in your calendar where you can relax and contemplate what you still want and need to accomplish this year before the busyness of Summer kicks in.  

    I find it helpful to organize my "To Do"s into categories.  For me, first comes the External, which are basically things that aren't personal to just me but pertain to my family and/or our home.  I don't know about you but watching The Home Edit on Netflix has really inspired me to clean out and get organized.  What they say is true...a cluttered space results in a cluttered mind.  Just looking at the unnecessary piles and stuffed cabinets and drawers can increase our stress levels and decrease our feelings of control.  Plus, it just puts me in a bad mood when inevitably, the thing you really need (that you KNOW you already own) cannot be found and you end up wasting money by repurchasing it.   There is also a very freeing feeling when you clean out items that you've unnecessarily kept, as it opens up valuable space for sentimental items or things that bring a smile to your face.  This reminds me of Marie Kondo and her method of picking up each item and really considering whether it brings you joy.  About two years ago, when her show came out on Netflix, I decided to tackle my clothes.  I went around my entire house, as she suggests, and gathered every article of clothing that I owned.  After doing that, I was faced with a mountain of clothes of all kinds on my bed and the surrounding area since that didn't even hold it all!  At first I thought it was silly, but that method REALLY works.  It made me realize that, while keeping some practical things that I didn't "love" was okay, I was holding onto things that actually brought out negative emotions in me.  Was I really going to wear those low jeans that were all the style 5+ years ago?  Did I enjoy wearing that bland/boring shirt that did nothing to flatter me?  No to both.  I realized that I could say "thank you" to these things for serving me and let them go to someone who would wear them and bring joy to their life.  

    After clearing out what we don't want and organizing what we do, it's then time to do some actual, physical Spring cleaning.  I like to break this down into bite-sized chunks by making a list of what needs to be done and going through room by room.  Cleaning is by far my least favorite task, which means I avoid the deep clean even more and it never gets done.  I've come to realize that not doing it is causing me more harm than good.  Similar to clutter, dirt that accumulates in the corners of our homes, underneath the couches we don't normally move and the curtains that we overlook has a tendency to also tarnish how we feel about ourselves.  It is important to honor and respect our homes by keeping them clean.  I think it also helps to remember how fortunate we are to have a home to clean when so many do not.  And don't forget...once you've tackled the inside, there is the outside of your home to consider. After all, most people only see the outside so we want to represent ourselves well for our community. 

    Second comes the Internal, which I consider my personal goals, aspirations and dreams.  For example, this blog was my primary goal this year, which was a carryover goal from 2020.  To be honest, I spent a lot of last year in analysis paralysis as well as pandemic shock.  Pandemic shock is what I'm defining as being stopped in your tracks.  The world was revolving as it should in what everyone had considered as their "normal".  Then, suddenly, the rug was pulled out from under us and all those things we'd taken for granted, what we'd considered our freedom, were gone.  It made us stop and question everything.  Not to mention, its impact on every aspect of our life.  I was fortunately allowed to continue to work from home but meanwhile, I had many friends who are self-employed that no longer had work or owned businesses that were forced to close or open at a significantly reduced capacity.  I am also close to a lot of people that made some, if not all, of their money in the entertainment/music industry, which came to a screeching halt.  As a true music lover, I was angry that I could no longer go to concerts or see live music.  Even today, I can't get up and dance like I used to...free and unencumbered from a mask, as we currently must still wear one while dancing by your chair, at your table.  Now is the time to look forward by thinking about where we are with our physical health, our mental/emotional well-being, our relationships, our faith and spirituality and last but not least, the dreams on our hearts.  

    Depending upon where you live, restrictions currently seem to be lifting across the country.  We are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and are hopeful that we can finally come out of our cocoon, spread our butterfly wings and fly free.  We are lightened by our sense of hope that we can return to spontaneously hugging our friends and family,  dancing full-out and social gatherings to celebrate life.  So as Spring arrives, take that hope outside and enjoy those longer, light-filled days with walks in nature, cooking on the grill with your favorite adult beverage or even just sitting in a quiet space with your favorite book.  Because before we know it, we'll all be complaining it's too hot and want to run inside to the cool respite of our air conditioning.  

    Now, it's your turn to share how you Spring-clean!