Spring is in the air

After a l-o-n-g waiting game, spring is here. Rising temps, sunny skies, and the air just feels different. I wake each morning to even more bird calls than the day before, and I can’t help smiling (okay, maybe I eat breakfast and then smile… but you know what I mean). Spring is renewal, and it’s impossible not to jump on that bandwagon.

If you take a minute to just be… you can join the transformation. Birds are everywhere (often looking for their next apartment under your deck or on your window sill); flowers push against the earth and open into vibrant purples and yellows; squirrels dart about searching for the greens they’ve missed all winter; and even the insects are in on the action.

It’s nothing short of amazing to watch nature happen — the way she choreographs each step of spring into a perfected whole. And the crazy part is that we generally ignore all the cues she tosses our way, the very cues that let the insects and animals enjoy the specific riches of the season.

No doubt many of us are dealing with dry skin (thank you, cold winter) and a literal accumulation of cold in our bodies, even though we’ve been given an abundance of grains and nuts all winter to help with exactly that.

Think about syncing with nature and going back to basics. She takes care of us if we let her.

So many of us will soon be carrying tissues and dealing with spring allergies. Spring brings rain; she washes the snow away and gives the earth more water (hello, mud). Ever notice how this is the time we hold on to more water — and congestion — too? That’s why green veggies and some berries are spring offerings. They are fat- and mucus-free, rich in nutrients, and they help us cleanse the heavier fats of winter.

Consider adding healthy grains like barley, buckwheat, rye, millet, and corn. Beans are great too, along with most veggies. Just ease up on red meats, shellfish, nuts, and dairy — the heavier foods — and always stay tuned to your body’s messages for your own needs.

In Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), spring is a time to shed any excess weight gathered over the winter. It’s a practical, natural moment to cleanse the body — something that truly resonates with me.

The earth is always whispering, providing just what we need. All we have to do is listen…

Ah, spring. May you feel, see, hear, and taste her offerings.