The lifted and gnarled ridges of snow and ice appeared like great heaving scars across the landscape – painful and raw. The small respite from freezing temperatures had melted the snow, morphing it into strange undulations, frozen in place by the icy, polar vortex. The exposed scarring was soon covered in a soothing blanket of snow, ready for the healing process. I believe, to some extent, we too feel a little like the landscape – beaten, bruised, exposed, and ready for Spring renewal, but unlike the landscape, I’m not so sure a fresh blanket of snow is what we had in mind. As my mother always said, “Winter helps build character.” Well, if that truly is the case, then we’re all sure to be Holden Caulfields, Cornelius Vanderbilts, or Daffy Ducks by the time Winter ends.
As we enter March, the old saying comes to mind…”In like a lion, out like a lamb.” I can’t say this has always held true, especially when I look back at older blogs, but Spring is inevitable, I promise. My daughter has been pleading with me for the last several weeks, looking for that parental wisdom and experience to ease her mind. “Will it ever get warm? Will I ever get to wear shorts again?” With millions of years of science on my side, and a basic understanding of the vernal equinox, I reply wither utter confidence, “Honey, we are in the throes of global warming, erh, global climate change, so maybe?” She finds it neither funny nor helpful, so I ease her mind again and remind her that daylight savings time is right around the corner, and because we lose an hour of sleep, we are subsequently rewarded with the beauty and warmth of Spring. This seemed completely reasonable to her. After all, when you ask a teenager to give up an hour of sleep for no apparent reason, you best balance the scales with something positive…quickly.
With the vernal equinox scheduled for March 20th, longer days and warmer temperatures are almost guaranteed. It may take some time for temperatures to level out, but there’s no debating, Spring is near. Take some deep breaths, picture your landscape in full bloom, verdant and lush, hear the distant warbling of birds, and feel the gentle breeze of Spring’s arrival as she sashays to and fro, bringing life into the world, and when she does, Sweeney’s will be there to make sure your landscape and life are as beautiful, healthy, and carefree as they can be.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot, and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
– Charles Dickens
Best wishes,
Kim Sweeney
Our environment also affects our mood particularly the way we think of something. The appearance of a scenery may contribute to our emotions and how we respond to certain actions. Thus, most of us prefer a calm and nice view of the sunset or in the beach wherein we can think properly with a good disposition.energy
Indeed it does, Jim. Likewise, in winter, some people are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which experts agree may be directly linked to the lack of sunlight. Our environments can play a pivotal role in our mood and emotions. A beautifully landscaped yard or a small terrace filled with planted containers can provide a peaceful oasis.