Hello Gorgeous!

I hate being a sucker. This morning, like every morning for the past 3 months, my furnace didn’t clank and bang trying to warm up my house. I could see the sun shining through the window and I heard the birds chirping. There was no white stuff on the ground. Is it possible? Is winter over? Hmmm… The thing is, could this day be trusted? Like I said, I hate being a sucker.

About a month ago, I woke up to a quiet furnace, a bright, sunny day and melting snow in my driveway. Yahoo, I thought to myself, winter is over! Two days later, we got blasted by another huge snowstorm. SUCKER!!! The one major difference between today and a month ago is the calendar. Today the calendar says April. Ahhh April. How I love to say this word because April means spring. Today I truly believe.

Spring is a time of awakening. After this long, long, long winter, nature is beginning to wake up. Yesterday, I saw some purple crocuses, the first spring flower, a sure sign that Mother Nature is ready to let go of winter. As I sit here and write, I can hear birds chirping, a song of spring happiness (and I want to chirp along with them). After this long, long, long winter, I’m ready for spring and to feel awakened.

I tried hard this winter (I really did!) to live a healthy, clean, green life. I have to be honest. Often winter got the best of me. I did get up every day and go work out, but I’m not sure I always gave it my all. I did vow every morning to eat healthy, but some days I just wanted to fill myself with some warm comfort food. Every day I tried to be gentle and forgiving and love myself just the way I was (if I wasn’t gentle on myself, who would be?), but many times my inner critic took over and judged that image I saw in the mirror. I blame it all on winter.

But, now that spring is here (and I truly believe) I feel awakened. I’m not sure if it’s because I can feel the warmth from the sun when I’m taking a walk or the fact that I’m not weighed down by my winter coat, warm sweater and boots. I’m not sure why, but all I know is I feel awakened and invigorated, and it feels amazing! Today I feel lighthearted, upbeat and optimistic! I can do anything and even if I didn’t always succeed this past winter, I can change! Just like the spring crocus, that are just starting to emerge, the spring Lori is ready to emerge and leave winter behind! Now, I know from experience, if I try to make too many changes, I feel overwhelmed and usually miss the mark. Today my goal is to make three changes and succeed.

Change #1

Though I try to eat healthy every day, I’m going to try and incorporate even more greens into my diet. Instead of the oatmeal I’ve been eating all winter, I’m going to start drinking a green smoothie every day. It’s an easy recipe.

Green Smoothie
Handful of spinach or kale
1 scoop of protein powder
1 cup of frozen fruit of your choice (my dear friend Susan came up with pineapple and peaches YUM)
Blend until smooth and enjoy

This easy breakfast feels lighter than oatmeal, tastes yummy and looks like spring. The best is that I’m eating spinach for breakfast and I’m not even aware of it. I’m adding more greens to my diet and starting the day feeling lighter, as if I am bringing spring to my breakfast table.

Change #2

I want to bring more spirituality into my life. I fear that this winter I have neglected my spiritual side and because of this, sometimes, I forgot how great life is. Sometimes, I forgot how lucky I am to be living a life filled with happiness and joy. Sure, I have had bumps in the road and I expect to have more in the future, but I also know that I am surrounded by love, good fortune and health and that I need to be thankful for all I have, every day. I know that spirituality is unique to everyone, but for me spirituality means connecting with nature and all it has to offer. I promise myself to go outside every day. Maybe, I will enjoy the sunshine (I could use the vitamin D), maybe dig in my flowerbeds, or maybe just listen to the birds without my cell phone, headphones or laptop. I am going to just take in whatever nature has in store for me that day (sans electronics) and say, Thank You.

Change #3

I’m going to look in the mirror every day and say, “Hello Gorgeous”. I’m going to say nothing else. This change doesn’t need explanation.

It’s been a long winter, but I am so ready to welcome spring and the new awakenings in myself. In just writing this, I already feel lighter and more optimistic. What changes can you incorporate in yourself to welcome spring into your own world? Whether it’s a change in your diet, how you view the world or how you view yourself, embrace your internal spring and say, “Hello Gorgeous”.