The Endless Possibilities of Spring

 

I know that many of you are entering autumn and getting ready for the winter season, but here spring has well and truly sprung! We have had above average temperatures all week and the weather has been warm and pleasant. It's a nice change after our cold winter, but I don't believe we've seen the last of those wintery days just yet. Our spring can be so variable, even knowing when to plant seedlings can be a challenge because frost can occur as late as November!

This quote by Joan Chittister, one of my favourite authors and theologians, is right on the mark. I recently spoke about a winter reset and how by living seasonally we can ensure that our plans for the year are on track, we are producing what we want (or don't want), and that we finding joy and contentment in our everyday lives. The beauty of spring.- literally and metaphorically - is the perfect time for this sort of reflection, to consider the "endless possibilities of life," and more importantly, "the simple joys of a life lived for higher things."

Here are a few of my favourite ways to embrace the cultivation of new life this season.

Surround yourself in colour

We recently stopped at a beautiful tulip garden open to the public. The walk through this magnificent, curated garden was pure food for the soul and although there were many people there, it did not feel busy or overwhelming. Classical music was drifting from speakers hidden in the trees, birds twittered, water ran over little waterfalls and the flowers turned their heads to the sun in greeting. The owners talked about how their year looks - the inspiration, the planning, the execution, the tidy up and the rest period. As Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. What better season than spring to celebrate the joy of flowers?

Give, or plan your finances to be able to give in the future

Some of my favourite charities have been reaching out with really good deals lately. For example the 5:1 matching grant has been quite popular, which is where for every dollar donated the government matches it with a grant of five times that amount. I recently gave to The Leprosy Mission (a charity that I have supported in the past) which has this grant currently. If you do not give, now is a nice time to donate some money, your time, food (to appropriate food banks) or to start preparing your finances to be able to give once the Christmas season is upon us. Not a lot is required to be able to make a big difference, so consider what's important to you, who you would like to help and how. 

Journal

I have included this here, because as Chittister suggests, now is a great time to "concentrate on developing the lasting values of life." If you are unsure what you truly value, what really matters to you, then journalling can be a great way to slowly tease these ideas out. If you are sure that you already know what your values are and what matters to you, then journalling on them can be a new way to examine them as priorities in your life, reflect on how well they have been included in your daily life and perhaps how you could incorporate them in different ways. For example, the last tip - if you value charity and giving to others, is this something that takes priority in your life? Should it have more importance (I'm speaking to myself here!), or could you do something differently moving forward? 

Plan the garden

If you haven't already, now is the time to plan the garden. So many classic authors, (think Jane Austen, the Brontes, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy amongst others), talk about the fertile wonder of spring. Of planning, preparing, working towards producing real fruitfulness. When we aim to live simply, living seasonally is a huge part of this, and one of the easiest ways to live seasonally is to grow a garden. Grow food that you love to eat, herbs that can be dried and shelved for cooler months, flowers that bring joy to your heart and bees to your garden. An abundant supply means sharing with others, another idea worth valuing. If possible, consider having some chickens or ducks for eggs. There is nothing nicer than freshly laid eggs. Our girls have finally started laying again and I couldn't be happier. 

Learn something new

The best way to cultivate a life that you love and that means something to you is to be a lifelong learner. This doesn't necessarily mean official schooling (although that could be an option). Learn to cook a new dish, or sew a new dress. Learn to grow dahlias or how to plant a productive garden bed. Learn how to water paint or calligraphy. There are so many free and easy ways to learn new things. By valuing learning we are embracing those endless possibilities of life which can give us hope, motivation and purpose. 

The change of seasons is the perfect time to consider the possibilities open to you and your life. What other ways could you improve your everyday life moving forward? Have you really considered what's important to you and do those things take priority in your life? Lots of things to think about as this new season of spring gets underway and I feel inspired by all the possibilities.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you all have a lovely, restful weekend,