I am so happy to be in March.

February, although it’s the shortest month, felt incredibly long. We navigated multiple weeks of sickness in my house, while also navigating the wild winter weather that wraps up New England in the month of February. Snow and lots of it is almost always guaranteed, balanced with a nice dose of cold, cold weather, just so you don’t forget it is in fact still Winter.

Then, it was March. And even with an almost 2 year old, I could not have been happier to welcome the time change, the later light, the longer days. When the time moves forward in Spring, I call it - Sunset Season, because I feel like the sky changes. Sunsets become brighter, more colorful, in fact … stunning. Just a couple of weeks ago, I walked out of the bathroom and was stopped in my tracks due to the cotton candy pink sky that was illuminating the mountains out our back windows. We’ve also been graced with some serious teasers of Spring - sunshine, 60 degree days, morning birds chirping, and I ordered an iced latte…once. I enjoyed snack time outdoors with my son, and when the weather allows we’ve been working on his balance bike (and therefore my patience, cardio, and nerves) up and down our street. The joy. The absolute JOY this child feels when he is on his bike and going down a hill, is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.

So even though I talk about it often, let this month be about finding the joy and shaking off winter, because it is officially Spring now, so it’s time to thaw.

With Love,

Lauren

Some things to write about or put into play this month:

• Reflect on something you do or enjoy doing in life that feels like going downhill on a bike?

• Color: March in New England can be pretty muddy, but I’m telling you there are pops of color everywhere. This month invite the colors in! Buy yourself flowers, wear a bright (or brighter color) to work, watch the sunsets, catch a sunrise and sit with it - invite the colors in.

• Speaking of Color … Participate in Art! Take a little time to get creative each week. Maybe it’s doing a mandala coloring page or digging out that coloring book you received as a gift and never thought you’d use (ha!), take a little time out of your week or weeks to color. You could even think about participating in a community art class solo or with a friend - whether it’s pottery or a Sip and Paint (cocktails and painting) at a local restaurant or venue, play around with art and enjoy seeing color come to life on the page or canvas while also, possibly, enjoying being a beginner at something or trying something new!

• Write about what it feels like for you to “thaw”. Is it unclenching your jaw? Is it switching up your closet? Is it releasing your shoulders? Having a change of perspective? Is it easy or difficult for you to thaw out?

• Hopes for Spring. This would be a lovely little journal session. What are your hopes for Spring? What are you looking to plant and grow?

• Release Expectations. We often give expectations to our months. It might sound like, “Shouldn’t it be warmer?” “Why is it still snowing?”. As much as I do this, I’ve been trying to limit myself and embrace what is happening. A real test just happened last weekend when we were originally predicted to get 9 inches of snow. At first, I was in shock, but then I got a little excited. This would mean I could get another few weeks of skiing in! But, like it always does, the weather shifted, and instead we got - Wintry Mix. UGH. My least favorite. I immediately started to question how this would play out - a pause on biking with my son, super muddy backyard, cold weather, rain/sleet/snow accumulating on our driveway, icy conditions. After letting this simmer, I remembered - this would be for: one. single. day. (maybe, maybe 2). So on those days it gave us an opportunity to: Color, play with stickers, paint, get more use out of the snowsuit instead of the rain suit, play in puddles once the precipitation stops, allow him to sprinkle sand up and down our walkway (one of his favorite activities), and hang out at our local coffee shop. I’m not passing by what is happening, I’m simply saying: This is what’s happening, and here’s what I can do about it. I invite you to try it too.

• Lean into luck. I recently was reading about how luck can be a matter of perspective. Think about it. Here’s a quote to deepen that thinking a little bit: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” - Randy Pausch