Nothing compares to the delight of the first sunny 55-degree day (especially in New England). It seems like everything is okay again and prior issues are irrelevant. All that matters is the sunshine and pure exuberance radiating from everyone on their jubilant little walks. Some may say this pocket of joy is proof that humans may be simpler creatures than we have posited for centuries. A dose of authentic vitamin D after months of deprivation will make anyone view the world through rose-tinted glasses. Wouldn’t it be amazing if life could always match this near-euphoric feeling? Or even a semblance of it?
Spring has sprung. The sun is setting later, the breeze is gradually becoming warmer, and the box of clutter you’ve shoved underneath your bed is begging to be addressed — literally and figuratively. The symbolism of a transitioning season is no joke, especially when it comes to spring — the season of new beginnings. You endured the bitterly cold winter, surviving the most ruthless of seasons. This triumph, however, comes with a lot of baggage.
Navigating the brutal months of winter, it is inevitable that we have acquired some unpleasant memories, situations, or acquaintances. We fall into patterns that may be comfortable or familiar, neglecting what serves us the best.
First, we have to acknowledge our skeletons in the closet — the things that are nagging at our sanity, sometimes lacking our own cognizance of it. So, beyond actually cleaning out our closet and reorganizing our shoe rack (which is also very important to do!), we must unpack what may be contributing to the mess in our lives.
Life is messy, it always will be. But to attain control over the chaos, it is necessary to look within. Take a step back, and assess what is no longer sparking joy in your life (shoutout to Marie Kondo <3). It may be a person, your living situation, your daily routine, or even simply how you’ve decided to decorate your bedroom. Something you have written off as not-that-bad may need to be addressed once again. Acquitting unsatisfactory sentiments as something you can deal with is not the ideal way to live life.
In order to maintain sanity, you need to maintain boundaries. You have to be the person who realizes what is beneficial to you, and what may be hindering you. I’m not trying to say you have to cut off everyone you know and move to another country under a pseudonym (unless of course that’s what you need) — I am just trying to encourage you to recall that you are worthy of peace and balance in a life that’s inevitably chaotic.
Problems are a fact of life, there is no escape from the tides of time. Yet, you can maintain control over how you decide to react to these issues. You can do your spring cleaning by communicating effectively, getting to know yourself better, and affirming that you deserve a clear mind and full heart. So, while you vacuum the dust under your bed or reorganize your dresser — take some time to clear out the cobwebs in your brain and enjoy the passage of time in all its uncharted territory.
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