Spring is in the air!

Now that we've had our two major storms for this part of the year, it seems clear that spring is in the air! It was 46 degrees today and in the 40's yesterday. Will be again tomorrow and to 50 by Monday. But, it's more than just the temperatures - you can almost feel and smell spring in the air. I went for a 2.4 mile walk today and the air has that fresh quality that comes in the spring. The snowdrifts are melting fast and I'm sure we'll be in the rainy season in no time. Why is it that spring makes me feel alive again? I have a body that really slows down and becomes lethargic through the winter, but when spring comes it is as if my body is awakening along with all the rest of the earth. I'm convinced of evolution because my body still votes for hibernation! I've been aware of these body sensations for years - the sense of something awakening in me when the signs of spring appear. Even as a child I was aware of how my body changed and adapted to the seasons. The winter always seemed dark and long to me, and I always felt that lethargy. Spring was like coming alive and I loved summer. Fall was my favorite season, but I always feel a sense of melancholy. It's so beautiful, but I know winter isn't far behind and it is bittersweet. I love the cool, crisp days of fall with the beautiful colors in nature and the vivid blue of the skies. But, I long for it to stay and I resist the move to winter. I've been trying to make peace with winter these last few years, and I believe I am doing better with the cold and dark. But, I love this time of year and my spirit seems lighter and there is an underlying excitement because the days are longer, the sun is shining more and I can't wait for the greening of the earth. I don't hear many people talk about these same feelings, but I'm convinced that many people share this sense of change that is evident in our bodies and our spirits as we go through the year's cycle.