"Takin' Time Out"

Definition:  The season after winter and before summer, in which vegetation begins to appear, in the northern hemisphere from March to May

Move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward.  Originate or arise from.

We have had a very harsh, cold and out of the ordinary winter for Texas.   As well as many parts of our country.   Personally, this year has been good to experience the bleak wintery weather for a change, growing up in Colorado I sometimes miss the actual seasons now that I live further south.  As I am sitting here sipping on a warm cup of chai oolong blend tea it is simply scrumptious and such an unusual but distinct flavor.  I am on the weather app looking at the upcoming forecast for this weekend.  It is calling for more rain, I say bring it on. I can’t believe this week we celebrated the first day of SPRING!  We moved our clocks forward a couple weeks ago, we had a nice much needed rain this past weekend, the trees have begun budding and the fruit trees have white blossoms all over them.  Simply beautiful!  Oh and must I mention how amazing it is to find the weeds popping up in my yard from nowhere, some with those bright yellow flowers, ugh I thought the freezing temperatures would destroy them!  I even put a faithful application of winter weed and feed on my grass last fall, what happened?  I guess it gives me a good reason to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and spray or pull those nasty little troublesome plants hoping they disappear soon before spreading to my neighbor’s yard. 

 

Did you know SPRING Equinox signals the beginning of the renewal of the Earth?  It is the exact moment when the sun crosses the equator going from south to north.  The plants begin to bloom again and animals come out of their hibernation.  Yes that includes snakes so golfers beware!  SPRING officially began on March 20.  To me just as fall or autumn, SPRING is a season of transformations.  The temperature rises to a more bearable degree, no more excuses not to get outside for that morning walk or jog, and the desire for high calorie foods loaded with carbohydrates don’t sound so good anymore.  Beach and Lake Season is right around the corner. Oh no that dreadful thought of me putting on my bathing suit and will last year’s even fit, ugh?  Have you felt like a sloth this winter, have you found like me lounging around in your favorite sweat or yoga pants, long sleeve shirt and a blanket wrapped around you lying on the couch reading a book or watching a movie?  Slowly my spirit is reawakening from this long winter’s slumber.   Deep within I know “Takin Time Out” is a good thing we all need rest for our souls but SPRING not only brings transformation to earth but it can bring transformation into our daily lives.  Anticipation of SPRING with warmer weather, longer daylight I feel refreshed and I AM ALIVE AGAIN!  What about you are you ready for another season, are you ready for SPRING?

 

SPRING is also a wake-up call for our immune systems.  I know I know, I have a couple of allergy suffers in my house, and with the pollen and ever changing weather  they have runny noses, red swollen watery eyes and this leaves the allergy ridden loved ones just plain miserable.  Thank goodness for prescription drugs especially for my husband fortunately I have not had those issues knock on wood but on occasion I may have a flare up and that is why l like to keep my Nature’s Sunshine ALJ and Hista Block in stock.  Speaking of immune systems, I like to do a cleanse or detox at least twice a year.  SPRING and fall seem to work best for me.  I have done a few 21 day very monitored cleanse and I felt awesome but with my work schedule and travel the 14 day seems to work best for me.  SPRING is a time for renewal so I like to get all those winter toxins that latterly seem to weigh me down completely out of my system and there is no better way than with a detox.  I strongly recommend you speak with your physician or medical advisor before starting any new program.  Warning for those who have never gone on a cleanse or detox the first few days you may feel awful it almost makes you sick, therefore I like to start on a Thursday, the first day is not so bad but by the second and third day I have a raging headache and I am a bit lethargic.  I have the weekend to rest and sleep a little more drinking lots of water as the toxins begin to move and flush out of my system.  By day 4 you begin to feel like a brand new person and at the end of it you vow never to pick up your old eating habits again. Ha-ha!

 

Actually for some of us we may like to take it one step further, especially since we are on the journey of Lent leading up to my favorite holiday Easter.  Let’s take this time of cleansing a little deeper and have a time for a spiritual fasting.    In my early years as a Christian I read about this in scripture many times but I never truly thought about applying it to my personal life until our church as a body implemented the Daniel Fast.  It was a very humbling experience.  The purpose of spiritual fasting is to consecrate or set aside a specific period of time to draw closer to God and hear from him.  Your “Takin Time Out” to seek answers to prayer, to grow in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.   A powerful side benefit of the Daniel Fast was the improved health, cleansing of toxins and a little bit of weight loss (Yeah) and drawing closer to our Lord and Savior. What more could you ask for?  One of my favorite books of the Bible is Daniel found in the Old Testament.  Just in case you didn’t know Daniel was one of the children of Israel.  Scripture tells us he was a young man, with no blemish, good-looking, gifted in wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had the ability to serve in the king’s palace, and who was able to teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.  He was taken from his country and brought to Babylon by orders of the King.  However, he maintained his deep conviction to honor God in all things and one was very clear he was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet.  Let’s read the verse found in Daniel 10:3 “I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”  To him the king’s food was against dietary laws, he had vowed against wine, the king’s food had been offered up to idols and demons and he wanted no part of it.  He was very faithful in prayer and how he took care of his body and the foods he ate. God truly blessed him for it.  Shouldn’t we all be a little more like Daniel?  Whether it is a seven, ten, fourteen or twenty-one day fast that is between you and God…what truly matters is found in Mathew 6:16-18 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.  And you Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Hmmm this truly is something to think about, now isn’t it?

 

Well now that we feel a bit lighter and physically better, I say it is time to SPRING into Action and let’s do some SPRING Cleaning…it is amazing how those wintery little dust mites appear out of nowhere, I have opened my blinds in my windows to let the bright sunshine flow through my house and Oh My!  Where in the world did all that dust come from?  Have you looked along your blinds and baseboards?  Mine are white with a film of dust laying along that narrow board…hmmm I have to laugh because during a luncheon a dear friend of mine reminded me how I used to have a ritual or game for housecleaning.  Early in my married life my well organized very tidy mother was so kind to loan me a book and 4 cassette tapes (remember them) called “Sidetracked Home Executives – From Pig Pen to Paradise” by Pam Young and Peggy Jones.  I think they have an updated version now and an actual website filled full of wonderful information but way back then I spent hours typing on an actual typewriter (not computer) on 3X5 index cards, activities for the day, the week, the month, the quarter, bi-annually and annually.  I liked to put appropriate little stickers on the activity to make it fun and brighten up color coated cards that were filed either behind the day of the week, month or year.  Well after that luncheon I went home and dug around until I found my flowered little metal box that housed all those wonderful cards.  I leafed through each one and it brought back such wonderful memories early in my life as I began to keep my own home.  It brought such a reward when I was able to get everything done and it was more of a game than just housework.  I must say I remember how both of my Grandmothers loved to clean and have a neat and tidy home. For weeks and sometimes months in advance of them having Canasta Club in their home (which was a day the lady’s came over for lunch and play cards for the afternoon), they would spend hours deep cleaning the drapes, the carpet, the baseboards, inside drawers and cabinets wiping up every little speck and crumb.  Their windows were washed inside and out and yes they even moved the refrigerator, washing machine, dryer cleaning behind and underneath them.  Now really are your friends going to check behind your refrigerator…well no but I know it made them feel refreshed and knowing their house was deep cleaned at least twice a year.  Living in Baca County where the dust flies it wasn’t a bad thing.  Ok, so I have taken you down memory lane for a minute back to SPRING cleaning…what does that mean for you?  Cleaning out old clothes, deep cleaning your home even if you have a maid I am sure there are things like the top of the cabinets, behind the couches, what about the outside of the cabinet doors and drawers, the light switches or underneath the bed that might need a little refreshing.  It is a great time to flip your mattress, wash the mattress pad and change the batteries in your smoke alarms so they don’t begin to die and wake you up in the middle of the night with that annoying beep or chirping?  Who knows with all that motivation you might sleep a little sounder at night.  So now where shall we begin…wait let me go get my card file and then I can tell ya – LOL!

As I wrap up this week, I just looked out the window and saw a glimpse of a red breasted robin hopping around oh wait listen carefully do you hear the sweet sound of birds chirping or the wind blowing…have you “Takin Time Out” this week and notice the rebirth of SPRING in some way?  I know it is still a bit chilly but it truly is such a beautiful time whether it is new beginning, rebirth, cultivating the soil to plant your garden, SPRING cleaning, watching transformations before your own eyes or thinking of what you can do for the next community service project.  Maybe consider a few of these suggestions as you SPRING into SPRING

•         Spruce up your home with new decorations
•         Consider getting a new look, change your hairstyle or color and maybe add some SPRING color to your make-up with a new blush, lipstick and eye shadows.  Maybe some of your make-up needs to be purged if it hasn’t been used in the last 6 to 12 months
•         Find new ways for “Takin Time Out” and relaxing trying Yoga Nidra or maybe try cross country running, rowing, cycling, jogging, golf what is on your bucket list?
•         Pick or buy some new seasonal fresh flowers not only for the pots outside but maybe a fresh bouquet to admire at home…when is the last time you bought some flowers just for YOU?
•      Try a new hobby painting, ceramics, photography
•      Join a community garden club
•      Volunteer somewhere

Whatever it may be I wish you a very happy, productive and awakening rebirth of SPRING!  Until next time my dear friend enjoy life to the fullest, breathe deeper and count your many blessings…