Blooming Buds and the Gift of Seasons
Hey everyone,
I hope you are all doing well! Like in my last blog, I want to thank everyone again for your beautiful comments and insights. I absolutely loved reading what you had to share, it makes this whole process of writing a blog so much more enjoyable!
Since my last post, it has continued to rain quite a bit here, and I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible. In a few months, when it's warmer, it won’t be raining as much and I know I’ll miss it. So, I’m trying to be in the moment and enjoy the coziness it brings. I’m also still enjoying seeing some snow on the mountains before it melts! During this transition from Winter to Spring, I really try to slow down and enjoy some of these things before they are gone.
I’m also quite excited about the sun setting later! One thing I love about the warmer months is going on evening walks. There is something so wonderful about being able to go out for a walk after dinner and there be some daylight left. It feels like a really special time, like there is a unique energy that’s different from earlier in the day.
In the last two weeks, the days are also getting a bit longer, and I have really felt the shift in the seasons. Daylight savings pushed the clocks an hour ahead, the daylight remains for longer throughout the day, and some of the trees and bushes near my home are just starting to have little buds blooming. It’s so wonderful to notice these little changes that happen before spring fully arrives. I think they often go unnoticed, but they are so beautiful. I like to apply that way of thinking to things I'm dealing with in life. When we are in a period of growth or transition, we often yearn for the end result, but I think there can be so much beauty in those in between moments as well. That is where life happens.
I have recently noticed that the more present and more connected I am with nature, the more strongly I feel the changing of the seasons. I feel much more sensitive to the shifts in the weather, and it makes things feel so restorative and new. For every year that goes by, I still do not tire from experiencing the changes that the new seasons bring. So for this time of year, the sun being up for a bit longer, the flowers and everything else in nature slowly starting to bloom, the temperature warming; it feels familiar and new all at the same time.
I feel so blessed to live somewhere where we get all four seasons. It’s such a gift to experience each of them, and it keeps the whole year feeling special. Unfortunately, it can be easy to get disconnected from nature and the world in general. We can get caught up in the many daily stresses that life can bring, and we put our heads down moving through life never really looking around us. I have been there, and, to be frank, it’s miserable. The more of an effort I make to pause, and look at the beauty that nature brings, the more meaningful and special it makes life feel. If you don’t mind sharing, what’s one small thing you’ve noticed recently when you take the time to pause? For me, it’s how pretty the little budding leaves on a bush or tree can look before it fully blooms. Feel free to share what you’ve noticed in the comments below the blog! I love reading what you have to share.
I know that for many people, Winter can bring a mental fog that feels relentless. Now that the sun is out for more of the day, and a new season is here, I hope you are all coming out of that fog and feeling a bit more uplifted and energized. But of course, remember to take care of yourself. Spring is only just beginning to show Herself, and the changing of seasons doesn’t happen overnight.
Have a wonderful week!
- Sarah
7 comments
So much wisdom in this blog, Sarah :) It really made me think about the process of change; sometimes it appears as though it happens all at once or overnight but really it has been percolating under the surface for months or even years. And you’re so right, there is so much beauty in these moments! While walking this week, I noticed the reflection of the sky in puddles of water. Normally, I don’t spend much time looking down but it made me smile, and was even inspired to stop and take a few pictures.
Thanks again for sharing your lovely thoughts and photos ✨
I really like the topic of this week’s post Miss Forest Girl! I love what you said about how there is beauty in the transition period and not only in the end results. It is definitely a matter of perspective, and to be able to appreciate the little things in our daily lives is such a gift.
When I take a pause in my life and give myself some time to breathe, I realize that things are not as scary as they seem. In the past I would focus on negative self-talk and I’d be scolding myself for not being where I want to be in life…but after lots of personal growth, I’ve learned to appreciate the struggle and the discomfort. I’ve always said that if I’m feeling too comfortable, then I’m probably not learning or growing very much. Today, I can look back at how nuts past-Gabe was and laugh.
When I take a pause in my life, I sort of “wake up” from the daily monotony and receive an opportunity to simply exist and enjoy things that I like to do such as listening to music or enjoying a good story. As a new season comes, I’m very much looking forward to the new adventures and stories that will be made <3
I really love this post. For me, smells stand out more than anything. The unique blend of cottonwood, cherry blossom, and wet earth is a big part of what makes this time of year in British Columbia feel so special to me. It’s still early enough in the season that it hasn’t fully set in, but noticing the small differences in how the air smells each day when I step outside brings me a lot of joy.
Reading this has gotten me even more excited to experience all the sights, smells, and sounds that come with each new day!
Sarah, I am with you on being grateful to live in a place that gets all 4 seasons. The change always offers something to look forward to.
When I was a kid, Spring always meant getting to spend more time outside, with fresh fragrances floating about, teasing me with flashes of memories from the Springs of years gone by.
Another thing I love about Spring, where I live now in the West Kootenay/ Boundary, is the return of all the migratory bids. It begins with the starlings, then robins, doves, swallows, the hummingbirds. Of course there are many other birds returning, and the other wildlife that come out of hiding, and can be seen around town and along the Trans Canada Trail area.
I love when the deer start fawning, and you see them napping in the grass, or running after their moms, bleating.
As I know you are very aware, and maybe even a bigger fan than I am, is when the perfume if the cottonwood trees comes to life in the mornings and evenings. That smell brings me back to many memories hiking around places like Squamish, Hope, Yarrow, Agassiz and many places on Vancouver Island and in the Interior.
Thank you again for an inspiring read, and food for reflection. Remaining present and aware add so much to our sense of belonging to our surroundings. It feeds our soul, calms our mind and strengthens our heart.
I love you and am so proud of you, 🫂😘❤️🪬Abba
Such beautiful shots Sarah! Ugh,I love the transition from winter to spring despite it being all muddy. One thing I notice when I take a moment to pause is how much longer the sun is out, compared to the winter time. It gives me some type of nostalgia from playing outside until sunset as a kid, but just an overall happy feeling compared to winter. I also notice the bits of green grass starting to sprout which is always exciting!
I can’t wait to see more of your photography, especially when everything starts to fully bloom again!
Thanks for sharing, always looking forward to the next one 🫶