Winter in the Midwest is not a joke, and as much as we pride ourselves in being able to handle 18 inches of snow and negative temps (no, we will NOT cancel classes), after Christmas is over, we've had enough of this cold. The breathtaking temperatures and shorter daylight times that we endure makes us tense, bored inside our homes and ready to go on vacation to somewhere warm.
When winter begins to thaw, and the grass starts to turn green again, Minnesotans emerge from their deep, dark hibernation. We crawl out of our caves, squinting at the sunlight, remembering what it feels like to be warm. Suddenly, there are people everywhere; walking their dogs, taking their kids to the park and sweeping off their porches. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been reminded what bon fires, dirt and rain smell like and oh, what lovely smells they are! The first day it hit 60 degrees was last week. I literally saw a little girl running around her front yard in her swimsuit while her dad filled up the kiddy pool for her. Yikes, I think it's safe to say we're all desperate for summer!
Of course there are many beautiful things about Minnesota winters, but right now, I want to focus on the beauty of spring. With the warmer weather peeking it's way through the clouds, I've noticed a huge change in my mood, my motivation and my energy levels. What a difference a little bit of sun and a warm breeze can make. I wake up, see the sun peeking through my curtains and think, I've gotta open those! It's beautiful out! Suddenly I'm ready to get up, have my coffee and start the day with a positive attitude. Over the winter, that is much more difficult to do. For some reason, the sun gets us up and out. Moving and creating. Running around and living. I feel alive again! I can breathe! Rather than rushing into a building or to my car to get out of the cold, I can take my time, look around, and breathe in the fresh air. Think about that, how much fresh air do we really breathe in during the winter? Hardly any! We're cooped up inside breathing the same stuffy air as our co-workers and families. No wonder we're all sick throughout the winter. Ick.
What are your favorite things about Springtime? Here are mine:
- The smell. I know it mostly smells like worms and dirt, but I can't help it. I love it! It's fresh and beautiful and honestly, it's one of my all-time favorite smells.
- The sun. In the winter, we don't get much daylight. We get up, it's dark. We come home from work, it's dark. We go to bed, and the next day we start all over again. We rarely get to enjoy the big, bright ball in the sky. In the spring, we come home from work and it's still light out. I can take the dog for the walk, open up the windows and doors and feel that warmth shining on me.
- The projects. Spring inspires me to start new projects. Whether it's a new art project or something that needs to get done around the house, I love the idea of getting up (somewhat) early on a Saturday morning to start a new project. Hopefully soon, my husband and I will buy our new home, then the spring projects will be endless! By then, I'll probably be sick of them ;-)
- The urge to clean. I love cleaning and organizing in the spring. Going through old stuff and sending it all off to Goodwill to make more room in our home is so refreshing. With the windows open and the radio on, I'll get my cleaning all done in a day, and then take a nap. Ahhhh...
- The anticipation of summer. Just knowing that summer is only a couple of months away is amazing. Thinking about warm weather, going to the cabin, and long summer nights spent with friends outdoors is so exciting! Not to mention, now is a great time to kick our workouts into high-gear for the swimsuit season. Working out = endorphins, endorphins make you happy. And you know what that means!
They just don't!
Your friend,
Meg
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