The blossoming trees. The fresh breeze. The blooming flowers. There are so many things to look forward to with the coming of spring. The smell of spring rain is one of the greatest joys of the season, so different from the bleak rain of winter and the steamy showers of summer. It renews and refreshes, allowing for growth. The human mind responds to the changing seasons in much the same way. It almost seems like spring cleanses those parts of our souls that grew musty from the long winter months. The excitement of the beauty and the fair weather grips us, calling us to go hike, take pictures, or just sit outside, soaking in that inexplicable spring feeling. Be encouraged to take the time to enjoy it. It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying again: Life is short. The busy routines, the hurrying from place to place affects us all. And whether we realize it or not, we’re tired, both emotionally and physically. It’s hard, but so worth the effort, to pull out of the fast-paced current of life and focus on living in an intentional state of calm, even if only for a few minutes. Our headspace is so deep in the rut of moving through the to-do list, it takes conscious exertion to break away. Take this as your reminder today to carve out a few minutes or a couple days to do this. You won’t regret it.

A Piece by Ruth Berry