By: Tara George, MA
In the words of my late father, “Spring will not be denied.” The first day of spring is March 20th. For many, spring is a welcome sight after a long cold winter. Some have suffered throughout the winter months from the effects of seasonal depression or even Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Spring is seen as a time of rebirth and renewal. In spring, daylight lasts longer as the temperature gets warmer. We are currently gaining two minutes of sunlight every day and soon will be gaining three. This month, the first robins will make an appearance. There will be signs of new life everywhere, from the birth of animal babies to trees beginning to bud and the first signs of flowers emerging from the ground. We are about to be breathing in the smell of the new spring air.
Yet, with spring being right around the corner, those who are grieving may experience a wide range of emotions. The passage of seasons marks a passage of time. In grief, we often think about the last time that we saw our loved ones. A marker of time, like the change of seasons, can be difficult because it represents how long we have been physically separated from our loved ones. It may feel like the world is proceeding despite the loss of your loved one. You still feel like you belong in the sacred time of your loved one’s illness and/or death. You may not understand how the world can go on without your loved one. It can also be difficult if spring was your loved one’s favorite season. It is not uncommon to feel guilty because we are feeling a bit of joy about something and our loved one is not physically here to experience the same. Or maybe, we just do not feel like being happy. If you are grieving, others may be encouraging you to get out of the house as the weather gets warmer. It is quite possible that you may feel like cocooning inside your house or under the sheets in your bed.
Grief is hard work, and spring can be a time to start taking care of ourselves and nurturing our souls, even if it is in incremental ways. Soul despair and grief can truly bring on physiological symptoms that mimic what we experience when we have the flu. Our minds and our bodies are connected and work together. In grief, our bodies often feel run down, our minds are foggy, we may experience headaches and stomachaches, we may not be eating, drinking, or sleeping well, and we may feel achy and tired all of the time.
As the weather warms, maybe choose to take a walk. It does not matter how long you walk. Just walk for as long as it feels right to you. You do not have to walk like you are in a race. Small and slow steps are steps. As you walk, exercise your ability to be mindful. Note what parts of your feet touch the ground first and how your feet feel solid on the earth. Feel how nature accepts us no matter what state we are in. Pay attention to what you can hear. Feel the sun and breeze on your face and in your hair. The very act of getting out in the sun has been known to boost our immunity, decrease feelings of depression, help our sleep, and reduce stress. Let nature embrace you in warmth and love, and I am sending the very same to you.