Why is spring so hopeful?
Spring for me is a time of new beginnings. As we limp towards the finish line of the winter marathon of dark early evenings and hibernation. The signs of the season changing can often be difficult to see, after so many months of grey.
This week there has felt a shift, the weather is warmer and tiny teasers of spring are in the air. A blink and you’ll miss it crocus peeking through the mud, picking up a lighter jacket before leaving the house, the heating not clicking on as often. Unlike the blossoms of April, the bold bright grasses and daisies of the summer months, the peonies with their fuchsia petals, the tall fields of sunflowers, the first whispers of spring are often more subtle.
What is there to be grateful for?
Gratitude is a word that has become so popular its meaning has diluted in some ways. What is gratitude? I see gratitude as an appreciation for and acknowledgment of those tiny moments easily pass us by. The world is busy and fast, so it is no wonder we often miss the glimmers of greatness. Reflecting on the other changes, the two minutes of extra sunlight a day, the temperature gauge creeping up slightly can offer a feeling of hope and positivity for what is to come, and what we have already survived during these colder months. Holding onto these snippets of gratitude have been proven to offer a change in our brain chemistry (Wood et al, 2010)1.
How can I be grateful for the little things?
The thankfulness doesn’t need to be for the big, monumental changes we have become accustomed to searching for. It can be the perfect coffee, a moment of sunshine through the window that warms your face, a message from a friend, a great sandwich. In a world where achievements are shared with ease, and we are shooting for the stars, the small moments can be overlooked on the way to the bigger ones.
Stopping to see the crocus, its delicate beauty is a sign of something for me to be grateful for. We have survived the winter, brighter mornings, longer evenings and warmer days are coming.
- Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: a review and theoretical integration. Clinical psychology review, 30(7), 890–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005 ↩︎
