I am finishing this, dear reader, as I sit on my back porch with the morning birdsong and a cup of spicy hot chocolate. The boys are curled up in my bed and I have escaped the cuddle puddle pile for the moment. As they soak in the last bits of slumber, I am noticing the blooms on the trees and the birds nest that rest Juston the other side of the fence. Austin is in full bloom and it is such a good reminder that after the rest comes the growth and joy. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping as if letting each other know they are not only alive, but letting each other know they are beautiful and ready to hang out. This time of year always reminds me of that scene in Bambi and twitter-pation, the pure joy of being in awe of everything around you. Yes, spring really does feel like the new year and it’s rapid approach (March 19) signals to my body, mind, and heart to be grateful for our hibernation and rest days.
Towards the end of last year, I did a little ritual my meditation teacher always offered: write down 13 things you want, fold them up and place them in a bowl/jar. For 13 days, pull one out without reading it and burn it, pull a card each time (you’ll have 12 cards pulled a theme for each month of the year). The last want is yours to unfold and work on throughout the year. So far each of the cards for January and February felt fitting and important, this month is a perfect call for spring.
This has been a major theme in these last few years of growth and being on my own, I tried really hard to make a life riding on the coat tails of those I loved, but life doesn’t work that way, especially not if you want to be happy. So, I am taking time to really write out what it is I want in this one, precious life. But how do you get clear when you are thinking about everyone else’s needs and not your own?