The Easter holiday is over and, though many people continue to celebrate the “Easter season” for another 40 days, many others have moved on and are preparing for summer. Similarly, for some teachers and students (namely my grandchildren) the “spring break” is over, while many others are only now in the middle of that post-winter respite.

This weekend I listened to my grandchildren lament the end of their spring break. I recalled similar days when I was a child attending Catholic school. Our “Easter break” began with Holy Thursday and we returned to school on the Tuesday after Easter. Some of my friends, who attended public schools, generally were out on “spring break” the week before or after us. I remember saying, “Those lucky ducks, they get off all week, while we only get a 3-day vacation!” My childish calculations ignored the fact that Catholic school students were often given a day off for the feast of the school’s patron saint or some other “holy day.” I’m sure public school students envied us on those Catholic-only free days. Those memories led me to think about the ways envy gets planted and ways to weed it out.

In our society, it is very difficult to escape those temptations. Daily we face advertising that plays on that emotion. Food, drink, transportation, housing, appliances, insurance, even particular medications are presented in a way that tempts people to obtain them or envy those who already have them. Athletes and movie stars are used in advertising to imply that you could live like a person you admire if only you purchase that shoe, cosmetic, cereal, vehicle, or medication.

For many years, I have endeavored to be content with the blessings I have and avoid the human temptations toward envy. I thought I was succeeding pretty well. After all, I had come to understand that the best medical care could not keep a person from getting cancer. I had seen the rich and famous leading lives of profound uncertainty and sadness. I knew that the most hyped medication could cause terrible side effects, which actually stole a person’s well-being.

Still as I entered my sixties, I envied the people who were retired. In my mind, those people could invest time in whatever endeavors they valued and not be bound by the requirements of employment. They had the ability to come and go as they pleased, without asking permission for “time off.” They could travel without trying to cram it all into only fourteen days per year. I believed that, when I retired, I would be free from envy. I expected I would be happier and more content and, on some level, that seemed to be coming true.

Then came spring break! I was enjoying the sprouting crocus and rejoicing in the fresh spring air. I delighted in holiday cooking, baking, and entertaining. I was looking forward to the green buds showing up on the trees. Instead, I got surprised by more shades of green popping up inside than outside.

Social media began to fill with photos of the Caribbean and warm, sunny vistas, as friends and acquaintances shared news of their travels and adventures. With the “heart-I-desire,” I clicked many “like” buttons and said to myself, “I am so happy for their good fortune.” Still, in my “Grinchy-green-heart,” very much like that little girl, fifty-some years ago, an inner voice grumbled, “Those lucky ducks, I wish I had the cash to go on that cruise…stay in that hotel…go on that tour…have dinner in that restaurant!” There I was, gifted with the free time I so desired, and my brain was still playing the lyrics of my youth, “I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now.”

It was time to seek out the wisdom of true friends because, as a wise man once said, “A true friend knows your weaknesses, but shows you your strengths.” Though I felt quite guilty to admit this old green nemesis was still lurking in the recesses of my psyche, I was glad to have friends to help me recognize that it wasn’t the emotion that mattered, but how I dealt with it. With their help, I began to focus on the love of my husband and family, the fidelity of friends, the comforts of my home, the beautiful places I have traveled, the blessings of my health, and the amazing wonders of each new day.

If this spring season, you happen to find seeds of envy sprouting in your internal garden, take a few moments to consider the people, places, and circumstances which have brought, and continue to bring, joy to your life. Remember, true happiness is not about having what you want, but wanting what you have!

What do you do to mark the end of the winter season and move into spring? For some it is buying a new outfit, hat, or shoes. For others it might be planning a trip or “staycation” for Spring break. I have one friend who purchases biodegradable pots and potting soil to begin growing seedlings for future planting in his garden. My husband’s ritual is uncovering our patio furniture and his boat and preparing for a new season of fishing.

In general, for those of us here in the Midwest, spring is a real opportunity for new beginnings. The sun rises higher in the sky and shines longer and warmer. Spring rains wash away the dirty snow that tends to linger in parking lots and along roadways. After a long, and sometimes brutally cold or snowy winter, we can once again go outside sans heavy coats, boots, hats, and gloves.

For me the arrival of spring has deep spiritual connections because Lent always begins approximately six weeks before the vernal equinox. My family has always taken these Lenten days to contemplate our many blessings and the ways we have fallen short of the tremendous potential which has been knit into the fiber of our being. We make a concerted effort to set aside a bit more time for prayer, silence, meditation, living simply, helping others, and healing old wounds.

One of my ways to greet this season of new beginnings is the tradition of spring cleaning. I have heard that the practice actually began when homes were heated by fireplaces, and later when coal and oil were used to provide heat during the frigid winter weather. In those dark days of winter, evening light was also provided by kerosene or gas lamps. All these modes of heat and light produce a lot of soot and oily residue on surfaces. So the arrival of longer and warmer days would provide an opportunity to open doors and windows, wash curtains, clean walls and other surfaces to get rid of the layer of winter schmutz.

We are fortunate to live with much cleaner sources of heat and light, so though this spring ritual may no longer be absolutely necessary, I find it to be a very beneficial observance. It is a perfect adjunct to my Holy Week customs. It allows me to meditate upon the Biblical quote, “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

In northern climes, we heavily insulate our homes in an attempt to keep the heat inside and the cold outside. This causes the air to get stale. Holy Week cleaning is the acceptance of Spring’s invitation to open doors and windows. Even though March temperatures usually linger in the 40s or 50s, I find it refreshing to take the curtains down and open the windows for thorough washing. There is nothing like the joy of sun shining through sparkling glass and fresh air filling the house.

I think of Lenten prayer as Windex for my soul. It helps me to pay closer attention to the old accumulations that cloud my vision. Prayer usually leads me to be more generous. As I gather items from the back of cabinets and closets to donate, I become lighter and freer and can see more clearly how I might be a magnifier of light, generosity, and positive action.

As I clear the “dust bunnies,” which forced air heat has blown into every little crevice behind furniture and wall decorations, I think about the old hurts that have crept into the hidden places of my soul. I pray for the courage to clear out those sullied recesses of my heart, and the strength breathe out the fresh air of forgiveness.

When I begin to tire, which happens more often as each year passes, I think of it as a perfect opportunity to sit quietly, with a glass of cool water or hot cup of coffee, and gaze out at the birds and squirrels in my yard. This afternoon I noticed that the crocus have popped in my front flowerbed. I went outside for a closer look and breathed in the aroma of the ground warming in the sunshine and listened to the frogs croaking in the fen across from my house. Spring brings new reasons for gratitude!

The very fact that I can no longer complete the task in one day, as I did in the days of my youth, reminds me that growth does not happen in an instant. These days the very process of spring cleaning teaches me patience and perseverance.

As you welcome these lengthening days of spring, no matter what you do to mark this time of new beginnings, I urge you to take a few moments to breathe in the fresh air of opportunity and greet each new day with courage, generosity, hope, and joy!

Have you been yawning all day? Do your eyes sting a bit? Have you felt like you are walking in a fog? Are you feeling a bit sad or cranky? If you have answered “Yes!” to any (or all) of those questions, you may be one of the many people who struggle with the change to Daylight Savings Time.

Since the 1900s, there has been much discussion and debate about the “benefits” of this one-hour time shift in the spring. Forty-eight of the United States and several other countries around the world observe Daylight Savings Time. Unlike most areas in Arizona, all the islands of Hawaii, and many other countries who choose to keep a consistent time throughout the year.

“Spring ahead, fall back,” is the old adage reminding people which way to spin the dial or press the digital buttons each year. For me, and many others, the return to Standard Time in the autumn is most welcome, because we “gain an hour” as we “fall back.” Having an extra hour of sleep doesn’t effect me. The “spring ahead” change is a completely different matter!

Logically, I realize that I am only talking about a mere sixty minutes, but I might just as well be suffering the jet-lag experienced during a trip to Europe. This first week of Daylight Savings Time causes me to feel groggy and like I could use a nap, even after I’ve taken a nap!

I decided that when I retired, I would allow my body’s circadian rhythm to determine my sleep cycle. So now, I go to sleep when I am tired and (most days) wake up without an alarm clock. I have found that cycle to be very regular, though it is very different from the schedule I had to keep for over 58 years of my life.  I empathize with all those who are still in school or part of the working world, who are not able to follow their natural cycles!

However, I have found it strangely fascinating that I am STILL experiencing the “Daylight Savings Blahs.” Extra sleep does not necessarily prevent the imbalance and lethargy! As I understand it, the shift in daylight exposure is the cause for the spring malaise. The quick shift to early morning darkness, and the late-night brightness confuses natural rhythms. The good news is there are actions we can take to perk our spirits at this time of year (and whenever we feel a bit tired or off-center).

First off, do not deny the feelings. Generally, burying physical, psychological, and emotional sensations will only come back to bite you when you least expect it. I repeat to myself, as often as necessary, “I have the choice to remain positive, even though I’m not feeling at my best right now.” I just admit that I am being influenced by something outside myself, and I choose to look inwardly and make a concerted effort to remain in balance.

Secondly, be gentle with yourself.  Admit that you are tired, sad, or cranky and assure yourself that it is a temporary situation. Adjust your workload, as best as you can, to accommodate the few days of decreased productivity. Do what is necessary, but don’t add extra chores until your body reaches its new equilibrium. Of course, if your boss imposes a new task, do the best you can to reprioritize your day. Do the tasks with the closest deadlines first, and evaluate any other deadlines that can be extended.

During the next few days, drink more water, do some gentle exercise (outside if possible), and spend some time in a quiet atmosphere to help your body adjust.  This is the perfect time to take that quiet bubble bath. After exercise, a leisurely shower can also be very soothing. Listen to some music. The scents of lavender and spearmint have been proven to improve mood. Along with those prudent life practices, I find it helpful to be more attentive to my breathing, taking several deep belly-breaths whenever I notice that I am sighing, chest-breathing, or yawning.

The most difficult task of the next few days is to resist the temptation to boost your mood with energy drinks, caffeine, or sugar, because they can cause dramatic swings in internal chemistry that only make it tougher for your body to adjust.

There may be many of us wishing that Daylight Savings Time would just go away, because it is beyond our control and can make the week following very challenging. Just keep repeating, “This, too, shall pass!” Before you know it, the flowers will be blooming, the world will once again be green and you’ll be feeling like you are back on track. If all else fails, remind yourself that you’ll get your hour back when Standard Time returns on November 6th!