We have had a couple days of mild temperatures for February here in New England. On our walk to church, my daughter commented that it smelled like March - mud and melting. Inhaling deeply, I could feel my skin start to prickle and my heart fill with hope at the suggestion of Spring. My body was hungry to drink it all in.
A few years ago, I would have tamped down those feelings. I would have told myself, “Don’t get your hopes up. We still have several weeks of winter ahead of us with likely more snow to come.” In other words, I would have chastised myself for feeling hopeful at the possibility of spring. I would have called it a “reality check.” Don’t enjoy something that won’t last because you are bound to be disappointed when it is gone.
What a limiting perspective! Perhaps it comes out of my Puritan heritage of emotional temperance. I am so glad that I have learned to recognize it and choose something else.
My fourteen year old asked me to sit with her and her friends at a movie. My nine year old still climbs into my lap to snuggle. I know these things won’t last - so I am going to soak them up and relish in them even more.
So, walking to church on Sunday. I drank in the warm air. I let the earthy smells envelop me. I imagined the crocuses and daffodil bulbs stirring in the ground.
We may end up with a few more feet of snow, a few more snow days and shoveling opportunities in March. But for these days that suggest the coming of Spring, I am going to soak up every minute of mild air, let it thaw the hardened ground within and stir new growth in me.
A few years ago, I would have tamped down those feelings. I would have told myself, “Don’t get your hopes up. We still have several weeks of winter ahead of us with likely more snow to come.” In other words, I would have chastised myself for feeling hopeful at the possibility of spring. I would have called it a “reality check.” Don’t enjoy something that won’t last because you are bound to be disappointed when it is gone.
What a limiting perspective! Perhaps it comes out of my Puritan heritage of emotional temperance. I am so glad that I have learned to recognize it and choose something else.
My fourteen year old asked me to sit with her and her friends at a movie. My nine year old still climbs into my lap to snuggle. I know these things won’t last - so I am going to soak them up and relish in them even more.
So, walking to church on Sunday. I drank in the warm air. I let the earthy smells envelop me. I imagined the crocuses and daffodil bulbs stirring in the ground.
We may end up with a few more feet of snow, a few more snow days and shoveling opportunities in March. But for these days that suggest the coming of Spring, I am going to soak up every minute of mild air, let it thaw the hardened ground within and stir new growth in me.
 | Jessica Curtis is a professional life coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation. |
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