Is it spring or not?

I feel like we've had several seasons of weather over the past week. We had two days on the weekend that were near 80 degrees. We had blue skies and sunshine. I'm back to wearing socks today as it is currently 45 degrees. We are at the end of April and we're ready for a little consistency here. The flower bulbs are up and standing tall; the daffodils and the crocuses. The buds are popping out on the flowering trees. People are out taking walks and just this afternoon our resident Canadian Goose in the parking lot at my office hatched four eggs. Many of the signs of spring are here, but just not all on the same day.

I don't know about you, but not only am ready for some warmer temperatures in the 60s and 70s but I am also mentally ready for some positive signs that the seasons are moving forward and not just teasing us with their brief presence.

Spring brings a sense of rebirth, rejuvenation, motivation, inspiration, and sometimes freedom. The freedom to venture outside and take a walk and talk to your neighbors again. The cold and drab weather of the winter tends to keep us harbored up inside our warm and cozy homes. It's time to get back out there and reconnect; with nature and with people.

How does spring inspire or motivate you? 

Do you like to ride your bike on the trails at the park? 

Do you like to work in your garden? 

Do you enjoy drawing chalk masterpieces on the driveway with your grandkids?

Spring will finally show us all its glory and then suddenly it will be summer. I'm not in a hurry, but I certainly wouldn't mind more than two consecutive days of warmth and sunshine. Not wearing socks or a jacket can do wonders for our mental health.

When In Doubt, Make Your Own

Here we are well into the first week of February and we've only had a day or two of sunshine in the last 30 days. Unless you are a bear that is hibernating, that doesn't work for most of us. We all need certain things in our lives; human contact, conversation, affection, to feel respected and worthy, and for many ... sunshine. We need our Vitamin D. We need to feel the warmth. We need something to look at other than the color gray. We need options, lol.

Something to remember; we don't always have to wait for others to notice us, our talents, or even our needs. Sometimes we have the ability and the power to create our own destiny. We can forge our own path based on our choices. We can earn our own fortunes by working hard and with integrity and a positive spirit. We can create our own good luck, rather than waiting for it to drop at our feet. And with a simple yellow highlighter and a black Sharpie pen we can create our own little ray of sunshine. It may not give us physical warmth, but it will definitely rejuvenate us and lift us mentally. My little mental reminder was provided courtesy of a friend.

What have you done lately for yourself or someone else that lifted spirits and replenished souls?

Are you ready for spring?

I don't know about you but I feel like I skipped right over the month of February - like I played leap frog and went from January straight into March. This week there's a bit of spring in the air. I took an outdoor walk with my husband yesterday afternoon AND we opened a few of the house windows as well. Tonight I wore a sweatshirt in lieu of a coat. The temperatures will be at or near 60 all week, which I admit I am more than ready for. Trust me I'm not complaining. This winter has probably been the mildest I ever remember for Michigan. This Saturday will be St. Patrick's Day so I'm hoping the nice weather holds out just a bit longer. I REALLY don't want to have to cover up my green apparel with a coat. That would just be unfair!

Maybe I have a case of spring fever? I'm not sure. Could be. It might be contagious so you should be careful (lol). I know a lot of people who normally struggle during the months of January & February. They need warmth and sunshine to keep their outlook in check. Hopefully it's been a bit easier for everyone this year. Truth be told, I don't think any of us will pass up a week of warmth.

So are you ready for spring? I know I am!