Longing for Spring Renewal

After what has felt like a long, cold winter, spring is slowly trying to make an appearance. Moods begin to lift as the days grow longer and a few warm days sneak in. Our thoughts drift toward yard work, blooming flowers, budding trees, outdoor barbecues, and more time spent outside. Spring always feels like a fresh beginning on many levels; a chance to catch our breath after winter and soak in the warmth of the sun. (It’s snowing as I write this…)

As we start to anticipate renewal, it’s worth asking: what in your life is ready for renewal? Let this seasonal transition prompt some personal reflection.

Spring renewal begins, of course, with a spring clean-up. The debris of winter must be cleared. Dead branches and leaves are raked up and discarded. Flower beds are refreshed in preparation for new growth. This clean-up is an important ritual, symbolic of the hope for new beginnings and growth.

Using this as a metaphor, what debris in your life could use some clearing?

• Consider stepping away from social media. It offers little value and often clutters our lives, distracting us from more meaningful pursuits. Jonathan Haidt’s research on its impact on adolescents is devastating, and for adults, it can be a mindless time-waster that dulls awareness. As Kierkegaard warned, we become “tranquilized by the trivial.” Social media has had a deeply negative impact on our culture.

• Consider watching less news. We live in polarized times, and the 24-hour news cycle amplifies tension. With the constant changes and uncertainty in the world, it’s wise to limit your news intake. Excessive exposure only increases stress and anxiety.

• Consider what you’re putting into your body. Winter often brings bad habits; too much sitting indoors, mindless eating, excessive sugar, processed foods, alcohol. These habits don’t serve our health or well-being.

Spring also means planting new seeds and nourishing growth. After the clean-up comes the renewal. New seeds must be planted, the soil enriched, and new life nurtured. As you consider your own renewal, ask yourself: what do you want to plant and nourish?

• Assess your primary relationships.

  • What is the current health of your marriage or family life?

  • Do you need to invest more quality time in these relationships?

  • Can you deepen empathy, curiosity, and truly listen?

  • Are you working to bring out the best in those around you?

• Assess your interior world.

  • How much time do you spend in silence and reflection, versus being swept up in external noise?

  • Do you practice gratitude and train your mind to focus on the positive?

• Assess how much you are giving back.

  • There is so much need in the world. Consider how you might serve others and contribute to leaving the world a better place.

• Assess how much movement is part of your daily life.

  • It’s easy to become sedentary during the winter. My watch reminds me to stand up regularly; maybe yours does too. Consider walking, running, yoga, or cycling as ways to clear your mind and release stress from your body.

As the days grow longer and the warmth returns, use this time to renew and re-energize your life. What needs to be cleared away? What do you want to plant? And what deserves your care and nourishment in this season of new beginnings?