Credit: Michelle Quillin
Do the changing seasons affect your moods, and by proxy, your productivity and creativity? If you live in an area of the world where winter means months of early darkness, cold nights, and endless bouts of ice and snow, you know all about the winter doldrums. You may even suffer from depression directly tied to the seasons.
I was raised in the deep south, where the seasons are marked not by changing weather, but by major holidays and celebrations. Christmas and New Year’s Eve come in the winter, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter signal spring, the Fourth of July is a summer celebration, and Halloween and Thanksgiving mark autumn. But while holidays and celebrations are a great source of joy for most of us, they’re a harbinger of deep sadness for others, a reminder of loss, or of what’s missing from their lives. Now, tie those winter holidays to a dreary New England winter, and you’ve got a recipe for a real darkness of spirit.
My junior year of high school, my family moved from Georgia to Rhode Island, where I first discovered seasons marked not by holidays and celebrations, but by seagulls and sailboats in summer, vibrant palettes of gold, red, and orange leaves in the fall, and blankets of deep snow, ice skating, and sledding in the winter.
For many, though, winter isn’t a time for fun, or for the joy of playing outdoors in the long-awaited snow. Instead, winter brings a shutting down, a closing in, and a sleepy, dark hibernation of the soul. And like the trials and hardships that come into every life, winter seems to go on and on, for far too long. The clouds hang heavy and low…
But then, enter spring! Glorious spring! Harbinger of life!
With spring comes the first signs of new birth budding on the barren, storm-battered trees, and sprouting from the still-cold ground, covered in dead debris left there from the previous fall.
Spring in New England brings with it the sights, sounds, and smells of new beginnings. A promise of the veil lifting. A sense of renewal, of opportunity, of change. Change that heralds good.
Resurrection.
A New England spring reminds us that no matter how long or dark a season of life may be, there is always hope. Because just as spring follows winter, after darkness comes light.
Things always get better.
Always.
And hope? It springs eternal.
Credit: Michelle Quillin
What does spring mean for you?
About The Author
Michelle Quillin is chief connectivity officer of New England Multimedia and writes a blog at New England Multimedia. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook as one of the best around for engagement strategies and search engine optimization.
Related articles
Oh, do I relate to long winters, dark days and snow, snow, snow! Canada eh 😉 The first signs of Spring: robins chirping, green buds bursting through the earth, buds on trees, and SUNSHINE make me happy! I couldn’t agree more Michelle: there is always hope and, to quote the song, “the darkest hour is just before dawn”. Cheers! Kaarina
KDillabough Kaarina, I can’t wait to see pictures from your neck of the woods! Have you started thawing out yet?
Thank-you for letting me use your Happy Friday series to write off-brand, Jayme! I love this time of year in RI so much.
The link for “seagulls and sailing” is broken. It’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwbYjcriWOg if anyone wants to see what it’s like to sail in Newport, RI in the summer! We recorded the video, and that’s Scott’s music on the soundtrack. I watch that video all winter long, looking forward to spring and summer. Maybe that’s why I don’t get the winter doldrums? 😉
The link is not updated…so sorry, but I’m kinda glad as I like it in comments! Thanks for writing, Michelle.
Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing How cool to see it show up in the comments like that!
It feels like summer here today; I’m going to try to get out to Beavertail State Park and get some work done oceanside. Summers don’t last long here, so every moment counts, especially before Memorial Day weekend when the tourists arrive! Right now, RI is still quiet for the locals to enjoy.
This is beautiful, Michelle : )
There’s a time to die and a time to grow and flourish – the seasons renew your mind, strengthen your will, nourish your emotions and provide you with hope for a better day and the wisdom to live it… And if you wholly embrace the seasons in life for what they are, you’ll develop a love for yourself and others that surpasses all understanding : )
Mark_Harai Thank-you, Mark. I’m not surprised to hear you understand exactly where I was going with the changing seasons and the hope of spring. The season of life I’m in now is beautiful, and I’m grateful to be here!
Mark_Harai You’re such a romantic…I love this side of you.
Hi Michelle..
Here in Michigan we seemed to have skipped Spring and jumped right into Summer after a very long Winter. I love all the seasons, each offers something unique to tickle my mind. Tourist season has already started here this week with the Tulip Festival. Lots of people watching to do..LOL..
Happy Friday and Enjoy your Spring! Ann Jane
equuisdancer22 Michigan! Your winters make ours look like snow parties, Ann Jane. How long have you lived in Michigan?
New England Multimedia to long??? LOl..all my 63 years! right by the lake in the :snow belt” wonderful breezes in the Summer..and well yes pretty big Lake Flakes in the Winter too. Good thing I like to ski!
equuisdancer22 I like to cocoon! You must REALLY appreciate spring and summer, with Lake Michigan weather. It’s been a wild winter for everyone all over the country, that’s for sure.
equuisdancer22 The heat came back on yesterday and a bit this morning. Frost advisory last night in SW Ohio! Crazy weather.
Nicely done! Love the sentiment. As a Canadian in SW Ontario we have the cycle down but don’t ever experience the extremes (one way or the other). I suffer in late Feb through March from SAD. What I have found is it is a state of mind which means it can be overcome. Creativity has a lot to do with that. Doing something creative, I mean. Since I have been blogging SAD has been kicked to the curb.
We are in the time of beautiful spring here. Simply wonderful. It’s something that with our daily lives is easily overlooked, right? Walking to work this past few weeks has been a joy. Thanks for offering yours.
Cheers New England Multimedia Michele and HI! Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Jamie!
rdopping New England Multimedia Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing So great to have you back around in these parts, Ralph! You were missed, and you sound wonderfully buoyant and fresh! The break did you good!
Thanks for coming over to share a thought!!