This first week of spring has been incredible. The sun has been out, temperatures hovering in the mid-70’s, birds chirping, and flowers blooming. I’ve made an effort to get in a few runs after work while the sun shone and even cut out of work early one day and sat in my backyard and read a book (Bryan Stephenson’s Just Mercy – incredible) one afternoon.
Bliss.
Spring often means spring cleaning. I’m embracing this concept this year but extending it beyond the traditional de-clutter or spruce up your home definition. As we still are settling into our new home, we don’t have the need for the traditional spring cleaning yet.
So this year, spring cleaning is focused inward. The winter this year was a bit of a grind. I was distracted with job interviews, my foot has had a lingering case of tendonitis (which is SUPER annoying) and my runs were disrupted, the dark skies bothered me more than usual, and I just wasn’t firing like I like to. Nothing terrible, but not enough joyful moments.
My spring cleaning is focused on Marie Kondo’ing things in my inward life that do not bring me joy. You know, we all have them. Time spent not doing what you love. Distractions that weigh you down. Negative thoughts that aren’t helpful. Friends that don’t meet you half-way, or part-way. Gossip or complaints that can become toxic. Bye. Bye.
Instead, I’m looking forward to three incredible vacations with people I love. I’m going to physical therapy again to fix this silly foot. I’m proactively driving my job hunt versus waiting for the dream job to come to me. I’m exploring other investments in myself to help me learn new things and continue to grow. I’m expanding my reading material out of an unintentional self-help rut to broaden my perspective.
And I’m making time to be silly. Singing bad rap songs with my daughter. Joking with my son. Dancing around the house with my youngest. Sharing goofy snapchats with my sister. Being silly is a great way to spring clean any dark clouds away.
While not always easy, happiness can be a mindset, and choosing to frame the world as you wish to see it. For now, I wish to see the world as full of possibility, wash with sunshine, and every day as the opportunity to do what I love with those I love.
The Redefining 