This is the Day
“ Despite the forecast live like it’s Spring.”
Have you ever woke up with the thought:
This is the day…
Maybe this is the day you start a new work out. Maybe this is the day you start writing again. Maybe this is the day you start cutting out carbs, (that could just be me) Maybe you have a more community outreach goal like: today you are ready to start volunteering at the local homeless shelter.
As long as we are breathing, this day can hold any number of new beginnings, new starts. This is a very practical picture of hope. Life is not over, therefore today is new.
It is officially Spring time! Yippee! The air is warm today. This is not always the case in March, but today is almost summer like. Walking outside makes me want to sweep out the front porch. It makes me want to clean my house, and yet I put it off because I just want to be outside.
In the Midwest winter hangs on too long every year. You don’t even know the toll it has taken on your mind until the spring sun finally melts all the snow away. I am always surprised how the sun has the power to bring new hope every spring. Fresh and green like the tiny blades of grass poking through the brown ground cover. Such new growth reminds us all things are becoming new again.
This is the power of hope. Hope is an optimistic state of mind. It’s the confident expectation of good things to come. Its like looking out beyond what’s in front of you to what’s coming up over the hill. Today hope felt like a parade coming up over that hill. A street dressed with a energetic marching band blaring, baton throwers twirling, and flower decked floats passing all celebrating the joy of warm breezes and cloudless blue skies.
And I think to myself what a wonderful world…
Looking out over the neighborhood I could tell my neighbors were feeling it too. The smell of burning leaves, and grilled fixings wafted through the air as it mingled with the sound of playful dogs barking and children laughing. Birds chirping and lawn mowers whirring presented a welcoming invitation to get involved in this new season.
No more hibernating on the couch with a bag of chips and a 5 season series on Netflix. No! Get outside for a sunset walk with your sweetheart. Get outside and play hide n’ seek with your kids. Go on that hike at the nature center. This is the message of spring in the Midwest.
What a great time to set out to do something new. What a great time to shake off the old ways for the new. So how can we actually turn over a new leaf?
I am about to rattle off a few suggestions we have all read before. In fact, I am rolling my eyes as I write them. Why?
“Because I already know this, Dianne,” I grumble to myself as I continue writing.
This is the day to follow through on the one thing that keeps popping up in your mind. I don’t know about you, but it seems I can only make one change at a time. If I start counting my carbs, I somehow can’t keep up on the laundry. If I spend quality time with my son than I get behind in another area. Well, I think its worth the hassle to meet the goal that is already rolling around in your head. How do we take the step to meet this goal?
1. Share your goal with someone else. When we speak our intention out loud it makes it real.
2. Encourage yourself. If you have gotten into the habit of discouraging yourself with “you will never” statements it is time to stop that.
3. Set a time limit. Dread is our biggest enemy so set a time frame to get your goal met. When we start something new we can get so excited that we over do the first step and tend lose energy quickly. Keep your goal as simple as possible and stick with it. Try not to bite off more than you can chew.
Okay, I’m done sharing pointers. I want to leave you with this thought. What you decide to do today is blessing the person you will be tomorrow.
This is the day, enjoy it!