A thought from a friend on the passing of Winter and the expectation of Spring...

Here is a journal entry from a friend of mine who I work with...I love her mind and her sensitivity to the intricacies of creation and life around us. We love the seasons and this is a reflection she wrote that I thought I would share...Enjoy.

There’s a part of me that hates to see winter go.
It is so strange that it robs our daytime hours, makes us shiver to the bone, slows down our drive, and yet when it nears its end, I find myself being loyal to it.
I go outside on an almost spring night and am gladdened by the coolness and the clear evening sky. I can see planets that don’t appear on a summer’s eve. I almost like the deadened trees and feel as though they don’t expect anything of me. They need no care, and they seem to rest so peacefully. They make no effort to provide shade from the hot summer sun and they just rest.
Winter seems to require low expectations. Maybe it is so we sleep, so we slow down. Nature gives us an opportunity to let go and slow down, yet in this golden opportunity, we decide to press on, to be productive and to not allow ourselves the freedom to merely exist.
So when winter decides to pass its torch on to the awakening of spring, we grasp onto the last remnants and wonder if we accomplished what she gave us purpose to do, that being rest. We know we somewhat failed her so we are saddened that we won’t have that chance again until next year.
And that is when we let her go. We accept the longer days, the blooms on the trees, the shedding of clothing, and the risen expectations for us to produce, cultivate and prosper again.
Good-bye winter. You served us well. It is never your fault that we don’t know how to take the gift you give. So maybe next year I will learn to better accept you and take advantage of what you bring, whether it is dreary days spent reading, sleeping late on days off, gazing at your clear and brilliant sky, watching snow flurries with my face up to the sky or merely sitting at my laptop and writing what’s on my heart.
Welcome spring. I hope I do better at learning from you.
March 6, 2012