Greetings dear Friends and Family,
The snowdrops are out! Spring is here. Yey!
It is so lovely how these beautiful little flowers herald the turning of the season. They are just like the swallows arriving, telling us that we can relax into this transition from winter to springtime. These seasonal messengers from the natural world are so compelling. They invite us to settle into the predictability that the days will lengthen and temperatures will rise.
We breathe a sigh of relief.
Our eyes lift to the clearing blue sky.
We hear the birds start to sing once more.
It is profoundly reassuring to experience nature continuing to do what she does. On this anniversary of the arrival of the 'pandemic,' it is good to know that there are aspects of Life that remain consistent and beneficial to our well-being.
Spring is a time of celebration and a time of rejuvenation. Our spirits lift as we leave behind the quiet, reflective time of winter. Just like the seedlings that are ready to burst through the warming ground, we can feel a sense of urgency as we turn to the sunlight. We begin to think about what next and prepare for what is being called forward.
Are you feeling this too? I am imagining you sitting outside with your face raised to the warmth of the sun. As I write these words, I feel a delight rising myself in the renewal and rebirth before us in this time. As is often the way for The Sunny Optimist, a song came to me. Happy smile.
'And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.'
I decided to look for the Louis Armstrong rendition of this song to share with you. Then I came across the BBC video with David Attenborough reading the words alongside amazing images of nature. This felt more like it for today. The video is a celebration of our 'wonderful world' in all its glory.
My invitation is to watch this delightful two-minute video and be with the beauty before you. Click here or on the photograph to view.
Questions for this Week
The winter does not loosen its grip all at once. It is a gradual process with an ebb and flow dance with the returning warmth and light. The seedlings take their time to break through the relaxing earth as they grow towards the sunlight. And so you need to be gentle with your emergence into this new season too. I have offered a contemplation time with the words of the song below that I hope sustains your optimism and hope for better days to come.
My gentle questions for you today are:
What aspects of the spring season do your delight in?
What are you growing towards in this time of renewal?
As always, I would love to hear from you:)
Ann
Contemplation on our 'Wonderful World'
If you would like to take some time to be with our ‘wonderful world’, here is a small contemplation practice for you.
Enjoy
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I invite you to take a moment and close your eyes. Take a few slow breaths. Let your mind open up the gift of the words. Feel the images arise within you as you celebrate the beauty of nature. Touch into memories that gladden your heart and lift your spirits on this beautiful day.
What a Wonderful World
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world
Nothing is so beautiful as Spring
As Gerard Manley Hopkins said
It’s full of light and song and nee hopes for all. Sending the greatest best wishes to everyone. Cheers from an optimistic Richard
Btw. If you haven’t heard it Spring Song by Sibelius. And Grieg. Last Spring. The Seasons ballet by glazunov. There are others but those are my favourites.
But above all Spring in itself. To see it. To hear it. Produces its own best rewards. 🎵😀
Being out in the sun and the woods today has brought so much joy - happy to have the coming of spring and more time with us all together xxx