Spring and Joy

Yesterday, I came home and was unloading some groceries and the beauty of my garden caught my eye. Nothing special – or amazing – just some beautiful tulips and daffodils and the signs of spring all around me. A couple of days ago, I was cleaning and looked out the window to see a group of small children stopped in front of our house, from the daycare. The teacher was pointing at my garden and talking – I am assuming she was talking about the different flowers and maybe they were on a “signs of spring” walk. I used to take those with my students every year – whatever grade I taught. It is important to look for signs of beauty and find joy in the simple things around us.

In my recent readings about aging, I came upon this poem…and it reminded me of the importance of spring to breathe new life into us and into the world around us…

May I be generous.
May I cultivate integrity and respect.
May I be patient and see clearly the suffering of others.
May I be energetic, steadfast, and wholehearted.
May I cultivate a calm and inclusive mind and heart so I can compassionately serve all beings.
May I nurture wisdom and impart the benefit of any insights I may have to others.
– Buddhist teacher, Joan Halifax in Standing at the Edge