Considering An Early Spring

We have barely made it to the middle of February and the ground has already begun to thaw, the snow has melted away, and the days are becoming longer and warmer with each pass of the sun. Spring is here, having arrived early and with such abrupt intensity that the change of season could be said to have happened almost overnight. 

Spring is arguably my favourite season as I always find my mind stirring with the possibilities of new beginnings, awakening from the deep sleep of winter. I can only liken it to stepping out of a dark room after days of isolation and coming to find that there is a bright, glistening world waiting just beyond the door. Not to say that I tuck myself away during the winter months, however, mentally I do find that I tend to isolate myself and my creative desires go into hibernation. 

This is not something that I consider to be bad, or harmful by any means. The winter months provide an opportunity to rest, reflect and internally assess any growth or hardships experienced throughout the year, all in preparation for the busy spring and summer seasons. I find the winter season to be contemplative and this year in particular, I spent quite a bit of time examining my life, my hobbies, and the impact my career has held over my choices and movements. 

Now, with the changes that mark the coming of Spring visible around each and every corner, I am ready to emerge from my cocoon of mental hibernation and set my creative sights on projects that have been in a constant cycle of planning and development for far too long. I have chosen this year to finally move away from my career heavy focus, and place emphasis on my hobbies and personal enjoyment, picking up my pen and shedding the winter blues for springtime hues (the absolute cringe of that line is not lost on me). 

Over the next few months, I intend to look into previous writing projects that had once sparked my interest, but eventually found their way into my notorious tote box where most of my greatest ideas have gone to die, locked away in the back of a closet and forgotten. Much like the trees that begin to flourish and bloom after months of dormancy and conservation, I hope to witness the same transformative experience with previous fictional worlds that once tugged at my mind, but never progressed further to the first draft. 

With the return of the sun’s warming influence and the heavy doses of vitamin D almost guaranteed in my future, I remain optimistic that I will find balance in my work and writing and finally see the fruition of my efforts in the form of a completed manuscript. (Either that, or the fresh scent of the coming Spring has clouded my judgment and by next winter I will have added an additional tote box to my closet filled with new notebooks and abandoned worlds). In any case, Spring has arrived and I am content to just enjoy the change of season, the change of scenery, and the change of mindset. 

Hanna B.