Spring...cleaning, cleansing and other stuff

As the temps start to warm up around here (though today it is quite chilly) my thoughts have turned to all things spring. Flowers. Gardens. Sunshine. Longer, warmer days. Open windows with gentle breezes blowing in. Packing away the heavy sweaters, winter coats, scarves and mittens and breaking out the Tshirts and sandals. I suddenly want to lighten up everything around us: putting away the heavy winter blankets and replacing them with cool, cotton linens. Swapping out placemats and table cloths in sturdy weaves and dark colors for light, airy, springy fabrics and colors. Putting away the spicy and bakery scented candles and bringing out those with fruity and light floral scents. Changing our weekly menus from the hearty and comforting soups, stews and casseroles of the cold months to light fare or something yummy cooked on the grill.

Spring even makes me want to clean! That is something I am usually not too fond of, but when spring comes I am just inspired to clean and de-clutter. I want to lighten up our surroundings as well as everything mentioned above. There is just something about opening all the windows to let the stale winter air out and the fresh spring air in while giving everything a good scrubbing that just screams spring to me! I just want everything to be clean and open and airy. 

Of course, with the arrival of spring my thoughts also turn to gardening! I can't wait to dig in the dirt! I know my Mom is reading this right now and probably falling off her chair...she never thought she would hear those words from me. But, last year Kevin and I planted our first vegetable garden (a feat that was VERY well-documented on this blog!) and we are now hooked!!! There is something so satisfying watching something that we planted grow and flourish. And I swear, anything you cook with something you grow yourself tastes soooo amazing!!! We are planning on expanding our garden some this year and I am having so much fun choosing what we will plant and where. We are also planning on doing a little landscape design in our front yard, too. I am so excited to choose new shrubs and perennials to plant! Me...a green thumb! Who knew!!!

Spring also stirs something else in me. I feel the need to clean but I also feel the need to cleanse. Spring is a time for new beginnings. Why not take some time to do a little internal cleansing, right? This year more than any I have felt a yearning to make some good, positive changes in my life. It is time to take care of ME. I haven't done that for a long time. What will that entail? Well, lots of things. Of course there is the physical. I just have not been too good to myself in recent years, and it shows, and I feel it. I don't expect miracles or drastic changes, and I don't expect things to just happen in a few months. The reality is, any physical changes I make will have to stay with me for a lifetime of springs. And that is pretty much all I am going to say on that subject, because, though some people find it very helpful to talk about it all the time, or blog about it, I don't.

And while I work on that physical cleansing, I also plan to work on some emotional cleansing. Spring just seems like the right time to let go of...stuff. Let go of any past hurts you may be holding on to. Let go of any petty jealousies or grudges. Let go bad attitudes and negative thinking. These are all things I try to let go of before I even give myself a chance to latch on to them, but let's face it, no matter how positively you try to live your life each day, these things can sometimes sneak in. So I plan to be very aware of that. I plan to meditate and pray, not necessarily more than I already do, but to be more purposeful and in the moment when I do it. I just plan to live my life happy. Again, something I already try to do anyway. I just plan to be much more aware of it. Just be in the moment, be present. Be. Happy.

What does spring mean to you???