GATEWAY TO SUMMER
“Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get.”
March is a month of hope. The hope of new life in nature and of leaving the dreaded winter behind us. It is a month when we start seeing more green - and not just on St. Patrick's Day. The month of spring is upon us. Leaves on my second favourite tree have arrived and spring will have its first day in 19 days. The third month of the year has commenced, leaving the shortest month of the year behind. March is the gateway to summer. Summer is the time I hope to see my boyfriend again.
The first Sunday of March I spent alone and indoors. Sundays should be special. They should be days to stay home and enjoy a day of quiet and relaxation, of not having to go to stores or do everyday chores. Sundays should be the days we sit down to a nice family meal together when we all have the time to do so. Europe has the right idea by not having most stores open on Sundays. It is a holy day away from the consumerism of the rest of the week.
Somehow the effort to make oneself a healthy meal is easier when you have someone else with whom to share it. When you are alone, it is easier to simply grab an orange and a piece of bread with peanut butter and honey. I recalled the breakfast in bed I had last month during my time in Ireland. Despite the hard times we were going through, my boyfriend still made the effort to bring me breakfast in bed. It was special and not something I ever had during my marriage - even during all of my pregnancies and times I was sick. So the gesture did not go unnoticed and was greatly appreciated.
There are many things I appreciate in this new relationship. Most of all is his willingness to keep going despite the odds against us and his not letting me give up either. Nobody has an easy life. It is what you do with it that matters. It is how you choose to see circumstances which stand in your way. You can see them as obstacles or challenges. Nestled in between the bad times are good moments as well. Seeing my children's smiling faces is one of those good times.
When we want to give up is the time to keep going. It is the time to fight harder to get what we want. There will be good times as well as bad times. Staying positive during bad times is imperative albeit not always simple. A positive attitude and focus on the future whilst staying present in the moment is how we move forward. When we finally weather the storms of life we find out we were much stronger than we ever thought.
