I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

This is the opening of a poem by William Wadsworth. One that I memorized in elementary school. As Spring approaches, this poem often drifts into my memory. This year it has special meaning as we emerge from our own lonely clouds to see the promise of a life that feels a little more “normal.”

For some of us, this will be a time of re-awakening and the magical moments of warmer days with the promise of summer. But for many, this is still an unsettling time. Not just because of the pandemic, but because of the challenges we experience or see around us. It's not just what we see, though, it's also what we can't see.

Spring has me thinking about all the things that take place just out of sight. Like a flower before it blooms, or a sproutling waiting to break through the earth. Just like our Spring flowers, we often don’t know what is happening under the surface in others’ lives or behind doors where we can’t see. As life speeds up again, it is more critical than ever that we watch for the signs of our friends and sisters in need. Whether it’s a long awaited hug, or a visit with a friend who has been solo all these months, we can be there to support. 

The same is true for ourselves. Like the flowers breaking through into the sun, take a moment to cast light on yourself. What do you need right now? What is happening for you right below the surface? For those of us on our menopause journey, we can feel emotional, mental, and physical shifts. It can be hard, but take a moment to, literally, smell the flowers and revel in reawakening this spring.

Enjoy these warming days  … 

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

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