The weather has been phenomenal. Lots of sunny days and balmy temperatures, bringing much-needed relief from all those cold, dreary winter days.
Springtime is perhaps my favorite time of year. It’s filled with excitement: flowers popping up, trees leafing out, birds chirping. I’ve been working and planting my little backyard garden. It feels so good to finally be able to spend lots of time outside again. Gardening is like medicine for my soul. It’s so therapeutic and relaxing to me.
Planning and planting a garden gives me something to look forward to. From perusing catalogs and ordering seeds to starting my transplants indoors, these visions and projects are what get me through those final weeks of winter. Gardening is my hobby; in fact, it has become almost like an obsession. I can’t wait to harvest juicy tomatoes, refreshing cucumbers, tasty peppers and various other things while colorful, fragrant flowers, vines and shrubs draw in bees and hummingbirds. I seem to expand my garden little by little each year, and it’s fun to experiment and see what grows well.
Springtime to me means new life, excitement and hope. It brings cheerful sunny days that brighten my mood and pull me out of my winter blues. Winter has always been a rough season for me, especially during my first couple of years as a widow. Winter’s dark, cold, dreary days seem to brutally amplify the grief, sadness and loneliness. Being shuttered inside all by yourself when it’s cold out and gets dark so early definitely doesn’t help. Widowhood sucks, and it sucks even more during winter.
I have to say, it hasn’t been too bad for me this time around, not even the holidays. It used to be so much worse. But I’ve also been widowed for 13 years now. It’s not that I don’t miss him and don’t think about him anymore, it’s just that the grief has lost some of its vicious bite.
How do the seasons affect you? Do you feel some relief when spring comes around? Does it lift your mood too? Please share in the comments section below.
May the gentle rays of the springtime sun bring you light, warmth and comfort.
It’ll find winter to be challenging. The short daylight, long dark nights are difficult especially when you are still trying to connect with people even after years of being a widower. I guess I was lucky to be in a relationship for a short time, but now on my own again. I remember you did a post about having a relationship that ended. It was especially hard to lose someone again, but not as bad as the loss of our spouse.
Hi Keith, thanks so much for sharing. Yes, the long dark nights are awful! I’m sorry your relationship didn’t work out. I’ve had several failed relationship attempts since being widowed. Some hurt more than others, but like you say, it’s never as bad as the loss of our spouse. Reading your comment, I just realized that the other reason for winter not being as bad as before is also that I adopted a little dog after that last breakup. Ever since then, I haven’t really felt lonely much and don’t even feel like dating anymore, at least not at this point in time. I’ve been so much happier since adopting her. And I guess I have to also credit her for not feeling the winter blues quite as much. I guess you could say, she saved me as much as I saved her. Thanks again for sharing. It was good to hear from you.
The grey and cloudy days always do a number on me so I am thrilled with sunshine and the chance to get some things done at my house. The more projects and tasks I complete, the more capable I feel. I think Hubby would have been impressed by me – heck, even I am impressed. (:
The sunshine just lifts your mood instantly, doesn’t it? It’s fantastic that you’re successfully tackling projects and tasks. I know it’s not easy to suddenly have to take care of all kinds of things that may not be part of our repertoire. Yes, you should be impressed with yourself, those are great accomplishments! I’m sure your husband is very impressed and proud, looking down from heaven. Thanks so much for sharing.
Daisy:
Thank you for this lovely reminder about finding the small joys within our grief journey. Apartment living in NYC means gardening is kinda not there but for potted plant. But walking to the Hudson River and along the Esplanade gives me comfort and joy. The vista and the faces of joy in the sunlight.
I’m also finding that I’ve been gathering up my years of posting, writing, sharing about loss and grief.
“I only saw the brush strokes and not the canvas.”
That halted me in the moment as if I just drove up to a train crossing and the gates came down. The red lights flashed and the bells sounded. I wondered was my grief journey all brush strokes while missing the canvas I was painting. The canvas of Donna, me, and grief?
Each brush stroke was a difficult memory. The entire canvas is restorative and offers new possibilities. In the end all of this. All of my posting, sharing, and this is me talking to myself. I’m now of the opinion if others hear my words and find insight or knowledge or feel comfort know you gave me pause for joy. Thank you.
This is my garden this spring. A renewal of my grief journey blooming with hope.
Hi Mark, I love your beautiful brush strokes and canvas analogy. We have been on such similar grief journeys and I can identify so much with your thoughts. It does feel like the canvas is coming together. Your posting and sharing has surely helped many, I know they have helped me a lot. Thank you. And thank you for your inspiring comment. Enjoy those beautiful days of spring up in New York!