“I’m hoping that while so many people are smelling the flowers, someone will take the time to plant some.” herbert rapport
The first official day of spring doesn’t bring exactly the same anticipation as, say, Christmas or one of my children’s birthdays. It’s not that gifts have to arrive on time or that one has cultural expectations or deadlines to meet. But a palpable anguish at receiving it fully prepared finds me almost every year. And this year was no different. I felt an overwhelming need to have all my ducklings lined up before today. She wanted to weed out the cabinets, rearrange the drawers, clean out the kitchen cabinets. Winter things in box. And the joy of spring to permeate each and every one of my living spaces.
I wanted fresh air, literally and metaphorically, to invade my mind, my family, and my home. I longed to roll up my sleeves and wipe away the cobwebs and crumbs. To donate small clothes to a local charity. To review my medications and check expiration dates. Review my commercial invoices and put them in chronological order. Delete my files and discard uninteresting material. Delete emails from months ago from my inbox, oh my!
And all my husband wanted was to see Kentucky beat UConn. He longed to lounge on the couch across from the subway (chips and salsa within immediate and easy reach) all weekend while I faced the daunting task of cleaning my entire life.
Add to that the news that my mother was having some health problems, and I felt particularly guided to drive the 150-mile trek to her house and spend all of Saturday visiting her.
Motherhood brings with it an almost constant feeling of restlessness. Of never feeling like you really have it all under control. Because just when you finally get over one hurdle, you have another one staring you in the face. You watch your teen navigate successfully through midterms only to sit through an unpleasant parent-teacher conference discussing her shortcomings. Or you can take your entire family safely through flu season just to deal with each member who comes down with that dreaded stomach bug. You shovel out from under one last snowstorm only to be hit by high winds and hail. Or you finally breathe a sigh of relief that you’ve successfully battled winter, only to find that you’re emotionally unprepared for the perpetual joy of spring.
March Madness.
I woke up Sunday morning feeling particularly restless. Having returned home after a long day out of state visiting my mother and other family and friends, I looked around my house and felt an overwhelming need to get in order. Perhaps it was from dealing so personally with the realities of old age. Maybe it was the lunchtime joke about aches and pains among the group of seventy-somethings. Perhaps it was the long drive home that gave me too much time for introspection. But I came back feeling compelled to infuse a “Lysol moment” into my life. I want cleanliness and order. Freshness and vitality. spring joy.
Your circumstances may be different than mine, but your goal is the same. Perhaps you also want to welcome spring with enthusiasm. With a new beginning. With energized focus. Here, then, is my formula for fighting March Madness with all arms:
Be well rested.
It’s hard to face organizational and creative challenges, not to mention a whole new season, without sleep. Research tells us that we need at least 6-7 hours a night. You should find yourself generally capable of taking over the world if you do this right.
Be strong.
Get plenty of aerobic exercise and strength training. Sliding through the spring requires you to be in fighting shape. You want to ensure that endorphins swirl through your body, so be sure to move, lift weights, and break a sweat. Whether you’re biking and hiking, or swimming indoors or doing Pilates, keep doing it. You want to shed those seven extra pounds that winter inevitably brings (I picked them up too) and get into your best shape. (And swimsuit season is right around the corner.)
To be disciplined.
Be aware of what you eat, what you read, and what you watch. Spring brings with it too many tasks to allow carelessness or laziness in your days. That can wait until summer. There are gardens to care for, decorating projects to undertake, and end-of-year school events to plan. Save complacency for later, after the demands of spring have been fully met. Attack cupboards and cabinets with a vengeance now so you can enjoy the rewards of summer later.
Be useful.
The surest way to calm any uneasy feeling is to do something nice for another person. My own quick trip to visit family this weekend brought me deep feelings of satisfaction. It did me good in my heart to see my mother as well as she was; it calmed any anxiety she was facing about potential health issues for her. The quickest way out of stagnation is service to others. So take a look around you and see where you might fit in in community service. Or to simply provide a meal to a neighbor or friend in need.
Be optimistic.
No other season conveys as much optimism as spring. New life springs from both the grass and the eggs. The sun shines. The clouds disappear. Allow yourself to be released by its uplifting and energizing days. Take a walk around your neighborhood or take a quick tour of your nearest mall. Enjoy the visual delights of spring: the yellows, purples, pinks and greens. Pick a flower. Grow wheatgrass for your children’s Easter baskets. Plant some herbs. Think of ways you could bring new life into this world.
I confess I have not met all my goals for this first day of spring. There are still some messy cabinets and sticky floors that beg for attention. But I am focused on fighting this madness before the day is over. Fully armed. And so thankful that spring is finally here!
yahoo!
