This week, while we were all busy at work, it felt like winter was finally making way for the start of spring. Warm days with a top temperature in double figures, we could forgive the cold mornings and evenings, and enjoy the warming sunshine. Excitingly waiting for the weekend, to get out in the fresh air and sunshine, to open our homes up to let the warm air through, maybe even start spring cleaning, or tidying up the garden. Was anyone else disappointed to wake up to a day where it was trying to snow, a top of nine degrees, which hovered around five degrees for most of the day? As I reflect on the irony of the way the temperature and weather fluctuates in Queanbeyan / Canberra over the winter months I have the fortitude to smile at the circumstances we often find ourselves in.

I don’t mean the irony that I am still living in one of the coldest places in Australia when I don’t actually like the cold. What I mean is, when we look forward to something so much, like getting out in the sun shine, to find a miserable freezing windy snowy day greets us.

So what do we do when this happens? Do we snuggle back under the covers and wait for warmer weather, moaning and groaning about the temperature, or do we jump out of bed and make the best of the weekend? Positive thinking and behaviour won out. Whilst tidying the garden was out of the question, I could still make a start on the spring cleaning. As I went through my wardrobe, culling clothes, I came up with this analogy.

Winter time, when it is cold and dark, it is easy to stay still, stay in bed, lie around, get depressed, and dwell on the past and regrets, wishing we had done things differently. When spring time arrives, the weather starts getting warmer, the days get longer and we become more active. We shake off the winter doldrums and the negative feelings and regrets and renew and refresh our emotions, our behaviour, our attitude, even our persona.

I think it was Douglas Adams who called it the “long dark tea time of the soul.” I am not sure who penned the term the “winter doldrums” that frustration, depression and negativity that creeps in when we can’t get our share of sunshine, vitamin D, our nature fix, to balance our energy. There is something about sunshine and nature that balances and heals many of the things that ail us. Who can be sad and glum while outside, marvelling at the spring growth pushing through the weather to show off the new green shoots? Who can stay negative when admiring (and smelling) the winter blooms of daphne and other winter flowering plants? We don’t have to spend ages outside during winter and freeze, half an hour or so a day outside should be enough to help keep the negative brain whirl at bay. Even if we don’t normally struggle with depression we can all be prone to bouts of melancholy, anger, regret and remorse. “I wish I had done xxx differently,” “If I had stood up to xxx I would still have xxx in my life,” “I should have fought for what I believed in and not given up, no matter what,” or whatever version of this is true.

Spring time brings with it a new perspective, so that if we are struggling with something like this, we quite often find a solution, or an action or something we can do to at least release, let go, and heal. Spring cleaning isn’t just about spring cleaning our cupboards, our drawers, our rooms or our garden but also a time to ‘spring clean’ our minds, hearts, body and thought processes. A perfect time to reassess body, heart and mind, there is a plethora of fresh fruit and vegetables, new recipes, juices and salads we can try, to cleanse and refresh ourselves. The benefits to a healthy eating regime, and exercise that takes advantage of the extended daylight hours, stretch beyond our body, which will feel better, fitter and trimmer, to our hearts and minds.

There is something about cleaning out a cupboard or a room, dusting and tidying that makes for a better frame of mind. Going out for a brisk walk, either during our lunch break, early in the morning or in the evening that helps us balance our body and our mind. Eating food that doesn’t cause bloating, adding more fresh fruits and vegetables is amazing for body, soul, heart and mind. If after all this you are still at odds with yourself, I suggest a creative project, to still and settle the brain whirl and focus on making something. I find writing is also cathartic. Whether writing lists, business plans, poetry, songs, stories or letters to my loved ones, assists the healing process.

Spring is coming, sunshine, flowers, plants, outdoors, exercise, fresh fruits, fun, family and friendship! Enjoy and relax and have fun J