Currently | Spring 2023

Spring’s motto, as of late, is “hurry up and wait.” For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this interminable need to rush to the finish line. When I was in school, I crammed my days full of activities, hoping that would expedite the remaining time before graduation. Now, it’s the same story. I can’t sit still because I’ve loaded my plate with so much to do. The problem is that there are many things that can’t be hurried along. I’ve witnessed this while watching the live camera feeds of the Washington, DC tidal basin.

You see, it’s cherry blossom season, one of my favorite times of the year. I hardly get the chance to drive down there, mainly because peak bloom often happens in the middle of the week and traffic is insufferable. With cherry blossom season, there’s a lot of wait… wait… wait… and then BLOOM. The National Park Service and local meteorologists make peak bloom predictions, and there’s a festival, and it’s a whole thing in the nation’s capital. There’s a lot tied up in these little pink and white flowers, but mother nature always shows up in her own time.

Needless to say, I’m learning about patience from these trees and the blooms they flaunt once a year. I’m learning that I can’t always rush, even when my brain tells me it’s all hands on deck. I’m learning that it’s okay to sit still, it’s okay to wait, and it’s okay to stop and smell the cherry blossoms. Here’s what I’ve been up to lately.

Loving - quiet date nights over a game of Yahtzee.

Eating - a lot of comfort food. My body is still in hibernation mode.

Working - on balancing work with play with relaxation.

Noticing - the days are getting longer. I will miss the solitude of winter but am glad to have the sun back.

Picturing - New England in the spring. Can’t wait to visit at the end of the month.

Collecting - spreadsheets upon spreadsheets. I’m using Excel more than I ever have in my life.

Wanting - a beach trip. Don’t know if there will be time before the summer, so might have to be patient for one in the fall.

Honoring - my body and softening my ego, as advised by Jessamyn Stanley from The Underbelly.

Anticipating - an extremely busy month…

Planning - … some downtime in the midst of a hectic schedule.

Following - the news of criminal charges of a certain former prez. I won’t say much, but if I could insert that popcorn gif right here, I would.

Accepting - that some people aren’t going to put the same amount of effort into relationships as I do. Time to stop watering dead plants.

Making - plans for new creative projects.

Smelling - spring in the air. This leads to one of my favorite scents: thunderstorms.

Getting - used to having a partner in life and remembering the rigid independence I had to have when single. Essay forthcoming.

Identifying - with Roman Roy in the current season of Succession. He’s an asshole, but I’m loving his laidback style.

Wearing - my hair in a top knot constantly. Does that mean it’s time for another haircut? (Says the woman who only gets one every year.)

Listening - to the soundtrack from the Liberal Arts film.

Consuming - way too much social media in my free time. Thinking about limiting screen time this month.

Reconnecting - with books from my childhood. Currently reading the Anne of Green Gables series.

Watching - Severence. Good God, does this show make me crazy.

Wondering - what goals I’ll be able to reach for the rest of this year.

Posting - those goals, big and small, on a page in my planner so I can be reminded of what I’m capable of.

Feeling - empowered but tired.

Releasing - negative thoughts like blowing those poofy dandelion seeds off the stem.

Scheduling - social media posts for the WMHC platforms.

Organizing - my life. I’m a Sagittarius who is naturally a bit chaotic, but I do require some order to keep my anxiety at bay.

Reading - a lot of educational and self-help (although I hate that term) books lately.

Taking - time to create a new morning routine. I’ve found that I need some more repetition in my life.

Craving - Brach’s jelly beans.

Investing - time and energy into myself.

Appreciating - technology and all the resources to learn new things on the internet.

Sending - love to my friends in Nashville. Seems like kids aren’t safe anywhere and that’s devastating.

Enjoying - working in a group and contributing to a big project.

Going - into April with a softer heart and thicker skin.

Resolving - to move my body more. Long-term steroids have not been kind to it and I need to feel better about myself.

Playing - with my cats and a colorful, fuzzy ball. They are like kittens but get worn out like the older cats that they are.

Encouraging - you to find a reason to smile today, even a small reason.

Finding - all the astrological events (meteor showers, eclipses, northern lights, etc.) to add to my calendar this year.

Spending - restless nights doing productive things. Grateful to be able to work any time of the day.

Wishing - there were more opportunities to volunteer in my town. One of the many reasons I miss living in the city.

Thinking - about tomorrow.