Spring Gratitude
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Spring’s warmer weather, longer days, and garden growth almost instantly cause a certain blossoming in my own spirit. The calendar New Year is in January, but spring feels like a new beginning to me. It’s like clean clothes out of the dryer, a candle lit for the first time, or meeting a new friend who you instantly connect with.
I feel like I’m writing my own version of the Sound of Music’s “Favorite Things.” But maybe that’s not such a bad idea when it comes to exercising that contentment muscle through expressing gratitude. What seasons, spaces, and people turn you into your own version of Maria Von Trapp?
Recognize the things in your life that spark gratitude and don’t be afraid to dip into that whimsical, child-like part of you. I think we adults need to be reminded of the simple, joy-filled moments and things. Make mental or written lists of things that you’re grateful for and press into those things. I’ll go first.
Spring Moments Gratitude List
Riding with windows down and country music on the radio. Don’t judge me. I used to hide my fondness of country music, but now I own it. For some reason, the twang and breeze on a country road feel like home to me.
Daisies. “I love daisies. They’re so friendly. Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?” Indeed I do, Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail). Whenever the daisies start peeking out of the ground, it’s like a smile in the form of a bloom.
Fireflies. When my family visited extended family in East Tennessee, my grandmother used to give a large Mason jar to my brother and I to fill with fireflies in late spring and early summer. We’d gather as many as possible in the jar, walk to the top of a hill in her backyard, and release them, watching those abdomens light up the sky. Late spring evenings with fireflies put a little light in my day.
Cling of a baseball bat on a ball. In undergrad, walking to my apartment or car in the spring and hearing the *ting* of a baseball bat making contact with a baseball was a sure sign school was almost out, making way for summer break. It’s still a sound that makes me think of my positive experiences in college.
What spring moments spark gratitude in your own spirit? Name the simple beauties of spring and make a physical or mental snapshot. Capturing what makes a season special to you will help you pause in that moment and practice gratitude. Even in the rush toward the next thing and all the new beginnings of spring, find time to be grateful for what’s happening in the now.