Happy Earth Week 2008

How many of us get off track on a regular basis? I know I do—life is going good and then wham! I fall off the track and suddenly have to get up, look around myself and ask: “What just happened?”

Often I already know the answer: I wasn’t paying attention. And sometimes it’s important not to pay attention – it’s very time-consuming to pay attention all the time and can be quite exhausting as well. But when I don’t pay attention I do have a tendency to wander or fall off those proverbial tracks of life.

I think for me it’s the weather that causes this. Or having too much on my plate, all at the same time.

This last couple of weeks, I’ve been off my game. I’m going to blame the changing season—spring is finally here (see earlier blog on that subject) and the flowers are coming up and the leaves are starting to appear on the trees. I didn’t wear a coat for the first time today – yippee!

I haven’t wanted to do anything but be outdoors – and so this past weekend I was outdoors – in my garden, finally able to dig in the good green and brown (dirt) earth as I planted new bulbs and bushes in my back yard. It felt good to dig holes and fill my gloved hands with handfuls of dirt as I lovingly planted my new bushes.

A cool breeze caressed my face and birds were singing in the nearby trees across the field that is my backyard. I connected with Mother Earth this last weekend, and paid tribute to her by planting new plants – just in time for Earth Day (April 22).

When we connect with the earth, we actually do become more grounded – by digging in the dirt and appreciating the earth, earthworms and all, I allow my spiritual and emotional self to be more grounded. And slowly I am becoming less spacey and getting back on track.

When you are feeling off or lose your way, try going for a walk in the neighborhood, a local park, or even enjoy your backyard. This will expel pent-up negative energy and allows your own positive flow to take hold again.

And remember to do something to honor the Earth – recycle your newspapers, change your light bulbs to a more energy-efficient type, plant a bush, a tree or even some flowers, or unplug a seldom-used appliance. There are lots of ways to appreciate the planet we live on and embrace the principles of going green.

And somewhere along the way, you may find yourself getting back on track too; or at least enjoying the track you’re currently on, a little bit more. Fresh air and green grass can do wonders to renew the soul.

Happy Spring everyone! (I can’t say it enough!) And Happy Earth Week too!

Spring is Finally Here!

Spring is finally here officially this week. The calendar says to—but I know so, for I saw my first robin of the season this weekend.

This winter season has been a brutal one for the Midwest for we’ve had more than our share of snow this year. Other parts of the country from mid November to mid May.
We moved from this city to sunny Florida to escape the snow. As a child I loved snow; as an adult who has to shovel it—I’m not too crazy about the white stuff any longer except around Christmas time when it should be mandatory. But alas—we rarely get a white Christmas and this year was no expectation. In fact, I think it was the only day it didn’t snow!

This area doesn’t really know snow – not the snow belts of Michigan or New York – and so when it snows as much it did this year, we get cranky. The sun wasn’t out much over the last few months and this didn’t help the mood.

For me, this winter, I have noticed the tendency to follow the way of certain animals—bears for example. I hibernate during these times when the cold, dreary weather is just too much for my aging psyche. No, I don’t physically crawl into a cave for months on end—although spiritually and psychologically I seem to. Friends and activities are kept at a distance, dreams are shelved and I concentrate on the mundane tasks of living day to day.

I write this because I find I am not alone in this hibernation period. I have found other kindred souls of late who find there are times of the year where they simply have to disconnect in order to recharge.

As a younger person, I didn’t understand this activity and probably dismissed its value. Older and wiser me knows now the importance of this activity and finally recognize this habitual behavior.

My sister calls it cycling—I cycle in my behavior from having lots of activity in my life to wanting none in my life. I have had a tendency to go from being a workaholic to being a hermit. After years of observation, I now concur this is what I do.

But it is not a flaw—but a coping mechanism to regain balance. Recognizing this pattern however, allows me not to find fault in myself or my behavior, but rather puts me in a search to better balance my life without going to extremes. And so spring is here and I am crawling out of my winter cave with renewed vision and purpos

Enjoy this spring—the new flowers, the birds singing and the sun is shining. Warmth envelopes us and we can shed those heavy winter coats. Turn your face to the light of the new season and smile – especially if you’re an occasional hibernator, like me. Welcome, spring!