| Spring is here at last! The season brings | | | | for those of us who experienced difficult |
| with it an opportunity for continued personal | | | | growing up days, we still have positive |
| growth, stimulated by a sense of life | | | | memories often awakened by our senses this |
| renewing itself around us. We see growth of | | | | time of the year. |
| every kind reflected in our environment in | | | | |
| the spring. Tiny seeds and bulbs blossom | | | | If you let yourself enjoy each new spring day |
| into colorful arrays of yellow, purple, and | | | | by "being there" rather than just "doing," |
| pink flowers and plants and the grass becomes | | | | then you can have the joy of not only being |
| green. Suddenly one day we look at the trees | | | | in the moment but also of rekindling |
| and see soft green leaves. Children seem to | | | | wonderful earlier memories. |
| leap ahead in growth, outgrowing clothing and | | | | |
| changing shoe sizes. One day in the | | | | In terms of growing optimistically, it is |
| supermarket there are blueberries from | | | | often these earlier memories that can serve |
| central New Jersey, not flown in from | | | | as a jumping off point for your own positive |
| California. | | | | growth. You might remember how you felt |
| | | | roller-skating on a spring day. Perhaps this |
| For most of us, we find our senses heightened | | | | memory was triggered by a walk you had |
| as warmer temperatures and refreshingly long | | | | yesterday. How can you recapture the |
| days beckon us outdoors. Whether sitting | | | | exuberance and enthusiasm you felt |
| outside on a bench, a porch, taking a walk or | | | | roller-skating many, many years ago? Perhaps |
| playing a sport, we become attuned to all the | | | | it is time to walk consistently everyday. |
| smells, sounds and sights that we associate | | | | Perhaps it is time to buy a pair of roller |
| with spring and the way our bodies feel. | | | | blades and learn to use them. Perhaps it is |
| | | | time to develop another form of exercise, or |
| Spring is a time for growing optimistically! | | | | maybe you would rather have the pleasure of |
| A sense of hope is in the air. Hardly a | | | | helping to teach a child or grandchild how to |
| person does not respond to positive feelings | | | | roller-skate. The ways to reinvent your past |
| on certain spring days. We all talk about | | | | into positive states of mind and body again |
| spring fever. If we look carefully at our | | | | and again are unique to you. Don't give up |
| reactions, we can see that THE ENCHANTED SELF | | | | your opportunities to grow optimistically in |
| is at work. Outside, breathing the spring | | | | these glorious months, |
| fresh air, it is easy to recall an earlier | | | | |
| positive spring memory. Perhaps it is | | | | My message to you is to honor yourself, to |
| remembering yourself racing your bicycle down | | | | honor your memories and let them pleasure you |
| a hill on a spring day, or coming home | | | | as you navigate through the spring months. |
| exhausted and hungry after playing baseball. | | | | Try not to focus on the unpleasant aspects of |
| Maybe it's the exciting feeling of a crush in | | | | earlier days. Look for the "positive" memory |
| the seventh grade combined with smelling | | | | traces associated with a smell, a taste, or |
| honeysuckle or lavender as you walked home | | | | an awareness that is rekindled by the |
| together. The images are boundless. Even | | | | blossoming of spring. |