Starting Over

It’s raining outside. Pouring, actually. I’m snuggled comfortably under my down quilt, watching the tempest shake the forest and drench the moss covered ground. Every inch of outside is green again. Winter has slowly thawed, leaving behind a brilliant display of vitality in its wake. The only sound now is the peaceful tune of the pouring rain and the soft melody of Clair de Lune. Both sets of music harmonize together perfectly, creating springs own symphony. Last night a familiar sound drew me to open the front door and step outside barefoot to explore. It was not a beautiful night, as beauty goes. It was dark, no moon or stars could penetrate the thick cloud coverage that promised today’s torrent. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering from the chilly March night on my fevered skin, and closed my eyes. I inhaled slowly, enjoying the fresh scent of a new season. The sound split the quiet again and I smiled. An echoing croak answered the first, and I couldn’t help but be happy in that moment. This morning, as dawn broke the horizon, the early birds sang cheerfully, welcoming the façade of sunshine and warmth. Birds and frogs. Grey above and green below. Storms and sunshine all wrapped up in one day.
Ahh… I thought. This can only mean one thing: spring has arrived in the Northwest. Although our winter was harsh with biting cold and record snowfalls, melting away to leave the forest barren for what seemed like many months—the first signs of spring still fought its way through the desolation to bring hope of rebirth once again to its appreciative audience. This phenomenon made me step back and examine what life has brought me recently. My own winter was full of unwanted surprises and doubts. I was full of grief and disheartened by any chance of starting over. But spring has arrived, bringing with it everything new and yet familiar. That familiar sense of beauty and growth. The seasons change with a quiet consistency often overlooked by mere mortals, too busy with our own accords to stop and realize the change around us. However, I am pausing now. I know that, when I am not looking, my winter will fade and bring with it a renewal of hope and a new beginning I had no idea I had been seeking. Life will be reborn, and I can begin anew.