Last week I wrote about the transition of seasons, and the impact that it can have on your emotions. It was a brief post and was very much in response to my real time reaction to the changing seasons. This week I’d like to build on that idea by specifically focusing on the shift that we’re making right now.
The transition from Winter to Spring is a beautiful one. With all of our senses we can really feel the difference in the air. We hear the birds chirp. We smell the budding flowers. We see the sun for more hours each day. We feel the grass or sand beneath our bare feet. And also, very importantly, we spend more time laughing with one another. Spring is a time of growth and connection. As I mentioned last week, spring is also a time when life begins to speed up. So this week I’d like to reflect on some of the things that I’d actually like to carry with me from winter into spring and summer. But first I’m going to discuss why I think this is so important.
For many, winter can be a challenging time of the year. I’d like to insert a very important disclaimer here. I am writing all of this from my own personal perspective. I’m sharing how I feel and what works for me, in the hope that it may resonate with others. Seasonal Depression is very real and affects people in different ways and to different extents. I understand that winter can be a very dark time. So many people may find everything I write here to be complete bullshit. That’s okay. Each person is different and nothing can be one size fits all.
That being said, for me winter is a time of deep recharge. Much of this has to do with time. The cold temperatures and fewer hours of sunlight make it much easier to not make plans. Outdoor winter activities are amazing, but have a much smaller time slot to fit into. We are left with a lot of time to fill. We are often left with a lot of time to ourselves.
What this time gives me is the ability to fully feel and process all of my emotions. This doesn’t always feel great. At times this means I feel like shit. But I have the time and space to move all the way through that feeling. In contrast, in the warmer months I am always on the move. There are constantly things to do, people to see. By the time the sun has set and I get home I’m too exhausted to do anything but hit my pillow.
Although I’m spending my time doing things and seeing people that I really love, I’m often left with very little time to process all of the emotions. Day after day of this leaves me with a build up that is too great to be moved through in one sitting. So when I do finally take a break for myself I just feel numb. There is simply too much to process.
I realize this is beginning to sound more like a journal entry than a blog post. But I am learning that rarely are our feelings exclusive to us. Sharing stories and experiences can help us achieve deeper and more personal connections.
With this in mind, my goal throughout this transition period into the next season is to carry bits of Winter’s energy with me. All of this really comes back to our necessity to slow down. Although I wish this was as easy as taking a deep breath and chilling out, it’s not. The first step, the hardest step, is giving yourself the permission to slow down. This means you don’t feel guilty for doing what you want to do. You don’t put yourself down for being unproductive. This takes a lot of practice, but can be achieved.
A mantra that helps me:
“Everything I do today will be for the sheer pleasure of enjoying it” -Unknown.
Slow down. Feel fully.
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