Natural Awakenings South Jersey April 2022

Page 44

INSPIRATION

Spring is a State of Mind

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by Marlaina Donato

Every year, spring lifts us from lethargy, her blossomed enthusiasm nudging us to take down the curtains for an annual wash, clean out the closets, and plot this year’s garden. If we pause and listen carefully, we can also hear an invitation to shake off the winters of our lives—the failures, aborted plans and could-have-beens.

“Spring, in all her punctual glory, teaches us the vital necessity to court our passions, and there is no better time than now.”

All of life depends upon nature’s green ambition, yet we tend to take it for granted, not unlike the faint whisper of discontent that

As April puts on a new playlist of birdsong and our gardens

hints at the need for change. In the darkness of our fear-based

remind us how to grow one inch at a time, we can make a point to

comfort zones, there is a thwarted impulse to take that class at the

wear that colorful shirt, begin the first chapter of a long overdue

community center, plant new ideas or try our hand at something new.

memoir or decide that we are deserving to fall madly, happily in

“I’m too old,” we proclaim. “I can’t do that,” we assume. “They’ll

love. For today, make an appointment with delight and put fresh

think I’m crazy,” we say. But spring begs to differ. The most deli-

flowers on the desk, walk barefoot after the rain or simply try on a

cious possibilities are those that give us stage-fright butterflies

new perspective. If we tune out the naysayer in our brains, we might

in the belly and wake us up at night with the nagging question,

even hear loved ones cheering us on. Spring, in all her punctual

“What if?” Perhaps, if the caterpillar could foresee its winged

glory, teaches us the vital necessity to court our passions, and

destiny, it would be too overcome with self-doubt to even begin.

there is no better time than now.

Author Marianne Williamson says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond

Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and visionary painter.

measure.”

Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

44

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