I'm finally seeing signs of Spring.
It's one of my favorite seasons. Second only to Fall, which I love because it means boots and jeans and comfy sweaters.
The maple tree in my front yard started budding a couple of weeks ago.
I walked out my front door and it was the first thing I noticed.
I paused for a moment to appreciate the bright green buds against the bare branches.
It was a sign of hope.
Hope that things will start to grow again. That lawns will become green and lush and flowers will brighten our days with vibrant colors.
Spring is a time of transition. From cold and dreary to alive and warm and bright.
In Wisconsin, Spring can be an interesting season though.
One day it will be 70 degrees and the air will smell fresh, the birds will be chirping, and we'll all feel hopeful that we've turned the corner from winter.
The next day...snow and 30 degrees. Or cold wind and rain.
We've gotten used to it though. We just put our extra layers on and wait out Mother Nature until she gets her act together.
Transitions are a part of life.
Change is necessary and most of the time it's a good thing. It pushes us out of our comfort zones and forces us to learn and grow and build strength.
There's been an extraordinary amount of change for all of us this past year though. We've been in an almost constant state of transition.
Sometimes they've been good.
Like more time to rest and just be with our closest family members. Or more time to write, or complete those house projects that we've been putting off for years.
And sometimes they've been really hard.
Like the loss of a job or the disconnection from the people who bring us joy. Or starting a new career in a virtual world, trying to forge relationships solely through a computer screen.
It can be hard to see past the emotions and the fear and the uncertainty and feel confident that we'll make it through.
But I think if we pause for just a moment.
Take time to breathe and see things for what they are.
We can find our way.
We can appreciate that transitions are part of life. They teach us things about ourselves and our strength that we might otherwise never know.
Like that tree in my front yard, whose branches are bare and stark all winter, we can have faith that Spring will come.
And with it, a whole new season of growth and opportunity.
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