#109: A guide to a slow spring
Eight hot tips!
Since spring’s arrival, I’ve been going on what I call “perfume walks.” The air in my neighborhood is sweet with magnolia blossoms and honeysuckles, as if nature herself dropped the hottest new scent of the season.
I’d bottle it up if I could.
If winter is a time to hibernate, spring offers a natural reset. But not unlike waking up in the morning, it can take time to stretch and rub the sleep out of your eyes.
Taking spring slow, of course, does not mean opting out of everything else. You’ll see the news. You’ll go to work. You’ll have sleepless nights. The world will keep spinning at an impossible clip.
But you can still set your own pace.
Here are eight ways to take it slow this season:
Go on a headphone-free walk. Spring often has a dazzling soundtrack.
You could also try a color walk, where the goal is to find something in every color of the rainbow (particularly fun when flowers are in bloom!).
Procure produce that’s in season in your region (you can find out online or by asking someone at your local farmers market).
If you’re able, crack a window.
Learn about the sights and sounds around you. I recently wrote about the plant identification tool on my phone, and I also love the Merlin Bird ID app to quickly identify a bird’s species by sight, sound, or description.
Arrange flowers. Nothing brightens a room quite like a fresh bouquet (and it’s fun to do it yourself).
When it’s nice, bring a blanket outside.
And when it rains, listen.
Links of note:
Another slow down tip for spring: Make a seasonal playlist. Mine is a true amalgamation of sunshine-y pop and gentler folk songs. I named it “A Bouquet of Tulips.”
If you’re a kindle user, my book Give Me Space but Don’t Go Far is going to be $1.99 next week (April 14 - 20) on Amazon Kindle. Less than a coffee is all I’m saying!
My friend Ryan introduced me to Annie Ernaux and I’m on a tear! So far I’ve read The Possession and The Young Man. Ernaux’s prose is both sparse and full. Not sure how else to describe, so you’ll have to read for yourself.
My snail mail club has officially begun! If you’re already a member but haven’t filled out your mailing info, please do so here. I’ll send out the first batch later this month! Upgrade your subscription to join:
Brighter days ahead, my friends. See you next time.
The turtle and skeleton are delightful!
Spring is my favorite season! The fragrances in the air, the uplifting birdsong and other nature noises, and seeing the colorful flowers popping up everywhere 🥰 what you made here really captures the essence of this time of the year and the beauty in taking it slow and enjoying every moment.