It feels like we’ve arrived at true Springtime here in the Midwest. Gone are the short and cold days, hello to the Sun, and spring showers! This is the first spring I’ve had that felt significant with change. Not only can I see the change in the environment around me, I can feel it. It hangs in the air just like the humid dew on the wind.
Winter Ends, Spring begins
Winter time was grounding for me, most of my time was spent doing what I enjoy. I spent my days in a constant flow, creating and revisiting what I’ve made in the past year; poems, journals, videos, pictures, and art. One of my main intentions was to be in movement each day, I walked along the Lakeshore. The sites of the sunrise and calming Lake Michigan waters greeted me every day.
Those walks brought me back to self. I’d end them with yoga; sun salutations and slow poses. Some days I’d do a hit class from YouTube or go to a local yoga studio to practice in community. I’d say being in present movement helped me get through the winter without landing me too deep in the blues. Coming out of that into what is now one of the most vibrant Spring seasons is lovelee.
All those winter days led up to the spring equinox on March 19th. Then March came and it went. Then April came and then it too went. Although time seems to be moving faster, this season has encouraged me to slow down and take in my surroundings more.The heightened aliveness in the air with everything coming back to life and people coming out of their winter shells has me in a very observational mood. It’s been fascinating to observe what once was quiet and still, is now buzzing with life. Whether it be the park or nightlife. It is wonderful to see the shift outside from a few to 100s of people enjoying the long-awaited Sunlight and longer days.
These observations and slow-looking have turned into a meditation of sorts. With busier and busier days it can become hard to just stop and take a pause. Enjoying being outside and taking the time to actually LOOK around and appreciate what I see has made my busier days just a little bit more bearable. The mundane is balanced with the awe that can only be found in nature.
Ordinarily, we sit through the theater of our senses and emerge scarcely touched by the sights and sounds and odors that underlie our lives.
-The doors of perception by Aldous Huxley
This quote touches on the necessity of immersing ourselves in the world that we live in. Being a mere passerby in our environments each day does us a disservice. All it takes is a single moment to change your perception. That commute to work could be filled with wonder if you let it. Try using the many senses you have to be within the spaces you frequent and watch the shift occur. Passivity can turn into inspiration, which can lead you to more joy. As the season continues and summer is on its way, here are some of my favorite activities to enjoy on any spring day:
– Slow looking in nature spaces
-crafting in the park with friends and family
– bird watching and trying to recognize the bird calls I hear
-recording bird sounds for a future project
-listening to new music
– taking an afternoon walk that ends with the Sunset at night
-eating foods that are in season; baby lettuce, arugula, pineapples, avocados, mangoes, lemons, and limes
-continuing to document my favorite meals and sharing those online
-attending events in and around my community here in Chicago
-thrifting new clothes/donating old ones
What is your favorite springtime activity? Leave a comment below 🙂
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