are you there spring? it's me, allergies
You know that “script” we’ve all practiced rehearsing since adolescence? The one that goes, “my favourite colour is yellow, my favourite season is summer, I prefer tea over coffee, mountains instead of the ocean, etc.”?
Any bets you were subconsciously rehearsing your own script while reading mine?
Yeah... I’m not surprised.
My point is, although much of my adult life, I have sworn upwards and downwards that spring is my least favourite season, I’ve been caught off guard this year to learn that this, in fact, may actually be categorically false.
Let’s take a walk through nature, and I’ll explain.
Ever since I can remember, and I’ve been told I have a memory like an elephant (that’s a good thing, I think), springtime has always looked like that ring of sludge left around the bathtub after an exceptionally busy day at the playground (thanks, snow mold). If you know, you know.
Now, there’s no need to clutch your pearls, but I have to break the bad news that spring in most Canadian cities doesn’t look like what is seen on social media. Don’t forget the tornado of cotton balls (pollen) flying at you on the bike trail *insert asthmatic wheeze for dramatic effect* and the devilish ticks playing peekaboo in your favourite forest because, in all honesty, this time of year feels like a giant minefield of no thank you, I’ll pass.
I know, I know, I should have kept that to myself, but I figured I needed to pull back the filters and be real with everyone (everyone = my dad, he’s probably the only one reading this).
But then, why yes – a plot twist! Hello, spring 2024!
I don’t know if it was because I have a dog who literally forces me to stop and enjoy nature, and by enjoy nature I mean stop so he can smell and pee on everything imagine – boy dogs amiright? But this year something shifted my disdain for spring. Just kidding, it was the camera on the new phone I purchased and the step challenge I was enrolled in at work that made me get outside more.
You thought I was going to describe some magical epiphany, didn’t you? Hah!
All jokes aside, I truly do think there has been something about this spring season that has me excited to spend time sneezing and admiring the cherry blossoms, the lilacs, duck ponds, the goslings and geese hissing at cyclists, the dew drops on the petals of newly planted flowers, the smell of manure being spread so I can fight some lady at the farmers market for fresh produce (ok I slipped in another joke). It honestly has been inspired me to be more creative, more present, and motivated to unplug and get exploring.
Which got me thinking. Can someone explain to me me why by default are most humans so resistant to change and the prospect of new possibilities? Is it a comfort thing? Stubbornness? I’m truly curious because, and brace yourself because I’m going to try and switch gears from being witty to insightful, but had I not slowed down and forced myself to engage with the beauty around me, I truly believe I would have been doing myself a disservice by missing the magic that is this season of nature, sunlight, and joy. If I stayed stuck into believing the list of risks and negativity were far more superior than the power of exploration what kind life would that be? Short answer, a small and quiet one.
Now I know that this it’s bizarre to get “preachy” over the spring season, but what I’m really trying to get at is that I don’t think the journey to self-discovery ends whenever we think we’ve curated the perfect list, script, vision board, etc. I think our path should always change and evolve into bigger and better things; each day is an opportunity to get to know yourself a little bit better.
I honestly challenge you to wake up tomorrow and try something you think you dislike. Do it. Try one spoon of sugar in your coffee instead of two, take your dog for a bonus walk in the rain even if it means you have to dress a little warmer, talk on the phone with a friend instead of text, whatever it is that you think you’re uncomfortable with or disinterested in, just give it one more try.
Think of yourself like you would a plant after a rainstorm, just because you get the shit kicked out of you and you feel like you don’t want to continue to grow, find a way to challenge yourself to keep going. And hell, if the coffee really does taste like garbage with less sugar - go back to what you like. At least you know for sure that you’re not missing out on an opportunity to unlock a version of yourself that you haven’t even met yet.
Fuck, I scared myself. I almost sounded wise. See! I tried something new yet again, I imparted wisdom instead of making a quirky joke as a way to eventually end this blog post!
And with that being said, happy spring, everyone (dad)!
Don’t forget to get outside, challenge yourself and change that script!