It’s official. Spring has sprung. Goodbye, Mister Gray Skies. Hello, Miss Sunshine.
I hope you have walked around your house and de-winterized it. Threw away anything resembling that season. Pinecones, evergreens boughs and holly berries have got to go. It’s time to display bird nests and eggs, daffodils and butterflies. Open your windows. Wash the blankets. Get a puppy.
Winter and spring have become for me—this week especially—metaphors for everyday living. I have noticed—more than usual—a predominant and unfriendly ethos floating around the world. A winter-like “graying” of people and their zest for life. With the arrival of spring, it’s time to change that. And for good.
Just last week, when I was changing in the gym locker room, a fellow lap swimmer waltzed in donning the cutest bathing suit. Totally fabulous. Orange tankini. So I commented (couldn’t help it of course): “Wow! That’s a great suit!”
No response.
Thinking she was hard of hearing, I looked her in the eye and repeated myself. “GREAT suit!” inflecting my voice so she would really take note.
She looked straight at me, kept walking and said nothing. Just opened the door towards the pool.
What’s up with that?!?
I stood back and shook my head. “What a hag,” I thought. She couldn’t have even stopped to say “thank you?”
And so it goes. People in their own little worlds. Without thought or time for anyone else. Wandering around with no bounce in their steps nor sparkle in their eyes. Living in “winter moments” of gray rather than “spring moments” of (lime) green.
My plea this week is simple: Live as if you believe in the hopes and promises of spring. Greet others with a smile. Say “good morning” to a complete stranger. Look at a colleague in the eyes and ask how he is doing. Laugh with your eyes. Shake someone’s hand firmly. Answer the phone cheerfully. Open the door for the mailman gratefully. Drive courteously.
You will stand out in the world. And be respected and admired for embracing life with spring-like exuberance. With joie de vivre. It’s not difficult. Takes very little extra energy. Just requires thinking about others. Of shifting one’s mindset.
It’s what the world needs at spring. Totally. Spring has sprung. Live it.
Blessings,
Carolina
About Me
- Carolina
- Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States
- Carolina Fernandez is an Author, Artist and Advisor. She is a Registered Investment Advisor and Vice President-Investments with Source Capital Group in Westport, CT. She holds the Series 7, 66 (63 & 65) and Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses and certifications in Long Term Care, Alternative Investments, Guided Portfolio Management and Financial Planning. She has written more than two hundred original articles, columns and stories which have been published and syndicated by more than 60,000 unique sites, blogs, newsletters and in seven anthologies. She has been quoted or featured in the media including NPR, Martha Stewart Living Radio and the FOX Business News program Your World with Neil Cavuto, and in Parenting, Redbook, Nickelodeon, Good Housekeeping, BottomLine Personal, Advertising Age, NewsDay and in hundreds of online sites. In her upcoming third book, What Color is Your Handbag?, she attempts to creatively communicate the language of finance so that every woman "gets" money.