With Spring Fever we often have a desire to revel in the extra daylight with someone who will enjoy sharing time with us: holding hands, walking in a park, taking a bike ride, or climbing the hiking trails. These activities can trigger natural hormones that bathe us in a feeling of well being.
Spring cleaning can also energize us, but it means decision-making. Since many of us nest during the winter — unless we are skiers — we start the new season with too many puffy coats, scarves, gloves, books, magazines and catalogs. Come springtime we need to decide what stays, what goes, and then follow though.
Although Spring Fever triggers desire and spring cleaning commands action, they both have a common denominator — letting go. In one case it is objects, in another it is emotional baggage.
Clearing out objects and clutter is easy because you can make a list and put a check mark each time you toss out or put away an item. With emotions, it is a bit more challenging. Nonetheless, with or without new love, give yourself a springtime boost.
Here are some ideas:
Let go of worn-out friendships and relationships with negative people.
Break old patterns that hinder your happiness — over-scheduling and over-working.
Change your hair, your clothes, even the way your home or office is set up.
Become more forgiving of yourself.
Be more forgiving of others without losing your sense of self.
With regard to new love, before you start feeling sorry for yourself if you do not have Spring Fever butterflies, take heart — it may not even actually exist.
Doctors say Spring Fever is not an official medical condition. However, every one of us can enjoy a Spring Fever high by focusing on our own positive qualities and valuing those of the man in our lives.
Single women who want someone new and special, make a list that includes character traits as well as looks. But be realistic. No matter how many times the Fairy Godmother may wave her magic wand, George Clooney is simply not going to knock on your door.
(Excerpted from my Providence Journal column)
Copyright 2011 Rita Watson/ All Rights Reserved