One peak out my window tells me clearly now: spring is here! Bulbs are blooming, trees are budding, and bird songs fill the air each morning. Days are noticeably longer, and even in my pacific northwest town we see the sun shining and blue skies opening up to us.
It feels like such a drastic change from the snow and freezing weather that epitomizes winter. The dark days leading to solstice, with fall pumpkins still lingering on a few porches, seem like ages ago. But really it was just a mere three months ago. How can so much change in such a short time?
When I look around outside and see the vibrant new life emerging, the fresh start of nature’s cycle, I think of how much time was spent in that quiet winter conserving energy. All creatures need fuel and rest before they can do the things that require energy. Hence why many plants go dormant and some animals hibernate.
We are creatures notorious for wanting to do big things with our energy all the time. Does that mean we need to hibernate more often too?
Our calendar new year, which happens in the dead of winter, tells us to leap into our world with new beginnings. We start making grand plans and trying new things, calling for a boost of energy, even while it’s still winter - while much of the natural world is paused, conserving energy, and waiting patiently.
While we may not go into dormancy for three months at a time, we certainly need periods of rest and recharge in order to do the things we want to do. We see a simple example of this everyday as our bodies ask us for food and sleep. Those are things we need to do regardless of new challenges and growth we are expecting of ourselves.
So why are we writing about the benefits of rest and recharge of winter now that it’s spring, when our energy probably feels up and we’re eager to start fresh? Simple: humans have more than one season of winter, and it looks very different from the three month holding period we see happening in the outside world.
There are multiple times throughout the year, month, or even in a day when we benefit from rest and recharge. As we get ready to dive into spring, into a season of new beginnings, think ahead to how you will fuel yourself along the way - and when you may need to pause - so you can keep going instead of burning out before the fruits of summer arrive.
