‘Tis the season to acknowledge and celebrate rebirth, renewal, new life, and harmony. We welcome it with joy and anticipation in belief systems across the globe, e.g., the Spring Equinox, Passover, Easter, Orthodox Easter, the Ismaili Muslim festival of Nowruz, Songkran water tradition in Thailand, and the Egyptian festival of Sham Ennessim.

Hope is renewed with the coming of spring and new life emerges around us. It may be hard to see in all locations, but it is here. Trees bud; grass sprouts green; and plants pop up. Even the yellow dandelion I saw yesterday through the snow tells me something is changing in the earth around me. The animals feel it, and our senses encourage us to see with fresh eyes. It’s in the air. You can feel it.

It is a good time to consider how I am being and doing in my life. Are my choices life-affirming and generative? Am I following societal paths and marketing manipulations that harm our natural world and overwhelm what is good and decent in others? Am I using my talents and work to empower others? More simply put by Terry Brooks in his Shannara series, am I giving back life for the life I was given?

Some choices and actions are simple to discern: how I treat others; what I eat; the amount of goods and services I use and discard; and the words I use. In our society, we demonstrate our priorities in the ways we spend our money and how we spend our time. Most of the manipulation and influence we encounter is geared toward getting our money and attention. The media and marketing have always been competitive, but today their offerings are ugly with cruelty to others and fear-mongering. It can be overwhelming.

For me, simple examples of choosing life include:

Eating simply. Limit fast food and prepare wholesome meals for yourself and others. Break the hypnosis that sugar is a treat I deserve because life is hard. Too much sugar kills. Wake up to the chemicals in our food. Those ubiquitous sodas are not food! Fresh organic produce is important; we need to make sure it is always available to us. Choose high quality animal products from small ranchers and eat great meat less often. Balance rules these choices.

 

Enjoying tech-free days alone and with family and friends. Rest your eyes by looking at a blooming tree or a running creek. Yes, we need to keep our phone for “emergencies” but put it away with sounds off for a few hours. We can turn off the TV and media for a day. We are human beings with tremendous potential to see and know. We need to remember and cultivate our awareness by connecting with Life – the natural world and other humans. Not machines.

 

Seeing the good in others and the beauty of our common humanity. Get past the need to be right or to get revenge on those who said I was wrong. Get past judgment and accept others as they are. Then I can take care of myself when in their company or choose not to be in their company. I have come to understand that I must love myself so I am strong and clear to love and support others. And so I can model and my energy shines in the beauty of being human.

 

Speaking words of love and light. I have to stop cursing and saying ugly things, particularly when driving. I shock myself when I get annoyed at other drivers. Words have power. Gossiping and demeaning others hurt the soul. Even those political discussions where we try to figure out what the hell is going on and keep repeating the same outrage and confusion contribute to a downward spiral. It is time to stop dead in our tracks and wait to know before we take the next steps. Until we know, speak only positive, hopeful words to clear the path to knowing.

 

Strengthening my connection to Something Greater than myself. For me that is trust in Life, the order and balance of the Universe, and a benevolent God. All of it. I write this and know that all is well in an order I cannot comprehend.

I am learning to discern what is Divine Guidance versus self-talk and echoes of external conditioning. My senses identify the knowing that this choice serves life while others lead to more decline and hurt. Each choice matters. We have great power if we choose to use it. It seems to me others are using their power to control others while destroying so much of life. We of the good and caring and loving have just as much power. Use it well and often.

Hope springs anew.