You survived February, the longest, shortest month, damp and depleted of Vitamin D and dopamine. I was right there with you, though not so much here with Wednesday Wellnesses.
But now here we are, rising up and ready to bloom again.
Spring stories abound in many cultures. It’s a time for waking back up, shaking off the dust, turning again toward the light and growing. As always, and recently in abundance, chaos continues around us. We clear our paths by letting go of what no longer serves, using the past as knowledge and nutrients instead of cover and debris impeding us. We make our way forward by forging safe and healthy community around us. We choose our battles, and we triage: start first with what’s needed now to protect ourselves, our health, our literal livelihoods. That helps us have energy for helping our neighborhoods.
Sometimes, though, one of the best ways of benefiting our own lives and health comes by realizing we aren’t the center of the universe. Being TOO much in our heads is bad for mental health. Seeing other people as objects to be used for our gain (transactional relationships) is bad for our moral and spiritual health. Long seen as the American Way, this emphasis on individualism and personal achievement over group harmony or the greater good is exemplified in the old saying “each man (sic) for himself”.
Helping others and contributing to the greater good provides purpose and meaning. It feels good, does good, and can help us escape the trap of assuming our worth is only tied to the wealth or power we accumulate.
As always, I push for the middle path. Be the best YOU that you can be, and do what you can to support others doing the same. Make use of resources that help you take best care of yourself, and be a source of help and encouragement for others. Take what you need, give what you can, and remember, mileage will vary under circumstance, so be kind to yourself and each other on the way.
How will you nourish your growth this spring?