As I started writing this, spring was in bloom. There were medians along my day-to-day drives filled with bluebonnets and other wildflowers. I loved those routes, seeing the splashes of color mixed in with the green. At the start of it, I also kept thinking about how spring’s blooming seemed to happen overnight: one day the trees were full of blossoms where bare branches had stood before.
These blossoms are small, delicate things. Fleeting each spring after having encouraged anticipation to settle in while waiting for that burst. And while they will fade into green with weeks left still in spring – a few cool mornings still expected to enjoy – those blossoms remind me of how much enjoyment those seemingly little things can bring.
So what else do I look forward to along with those painted petals?
* Lingering over a delicious, hot cup of coffee, sometimes at home but made even more special when it’s at a favorite coffee shop (or even finally checking out a new one on my list). I may have a book or have met a friend, or explore cafes on my travels, but when there’s no place I have to be after that and I can enjoy the cup until the dregs are all that remain at the bottom of the cup, even better.
Coffee in Costa Rica
* Reading (if you know me: obviously). But there’s a true satisfaction that comes when closing the back cover after finishing a good book. Or a joy when curling up in a comfortable seat ready to flip open the cover and start reading a much-anticipated book, or the latest book by a favorite author.
* Being outside. A walk at the Dallas Arboretum if you’re in this area, or any of the nearby parks and nature trails. And visting parks or trails is a highlight of some of my travels. Spring also brings concerts in parks over the metroplex, and that’s a great way to meet up with friends and spend a few hours outside in the evening, especially in these weeks before summer settle in and the evenings may still have a coolness to them.
Spring in the Pacific Northwest
* I’ve also been writing about yoga for the last several years, so it should come as no surprise that quiet time on my mat is something I really look forward to with class. It’s not just the period of rest in savasana at the end – in terms of quiet moments – but the flow itself. Opening, my body warming up, my breathing becoming more regulated and more focused. I feel calmer and that’s something I’ve come to associate with my mat itself after so many years of practicing, that like a Pavlovian response sometimes just stepping on my mat brings the first stirrings of calm.
Because it’s so easy to fall into a routine, sometimes writing up the things that bring joy can be a good reminder of what does bring you joy. It’s a reminder then on a nice evening to go outside and take that walk, or on a random morning when there are no plans or obligations, to go try that new coffee shop and take your time with one of their house specialties. All those little things add up.
