-
-
|
Letting Spring
In
© 1999,
by Lisa M. Roberts
- Imagine coming home from an afternoon
errand to find that every bed in your house has been made with
fresh clean sheets, every window washed until each glass pane
is clear, every floor swept, scrubbed and polished to a shine.
Imagine that this was all done for you without any guilt strings
attached, without hint of hard labor or begrudging comment, without
barely a whisper of effort. Imagine the sense of cleanliness
and rejuvenation such a moment could bring...
-
- This is what springtime feels
like to me. In the home outside my house, the ground has all
fresh coverings, the air is crisp and clear, the trees and shrubs
hold new light and life...and all this has sprung up with barely
a whisper of effort! It's truly a miracle, and even in the midst
of horrific news swirling around the country and the world, it's
hard *not* to feel hope blowing in through nature's wind.
-
- So with hope to lead us, blue
skies to cheer us and fresh air to cleanse our thoughts, let's
try pledging our spring "time" to renewals on all fronts.
As a community of Entrepreneurial
Parents, this pledge
will help us loosen the mud of negativity that can form on dreary
days that rain horrendous news, and keep us moving forward toward
the light of new beginnings.
- RENEWAL #1:
Clean some business slates.
- The spring is a great time to
wrap up those lingering business projects and clear the way for
new ones. Only you know what's weighing heavy on your To Do list
-- scratch them off once and for all by either spending a few
late nights in a row or by simply dropping them altogether through
a re-prioritization of your goals. Use spring time to meet or
delete business goals, save the summer for planning the next
school year's business agenda, and the fall for launching new
projects.
- RENEWAL #2:
Plant a garden with your children.
- Take time to smell the roses...and
plant new ones! To usher in each new spring with a wonderful
sense of affirmation, design a perennial garden with your children.
Watching the plants take root and then blossom in the same spot
each year is redeeming and replenishing for all.
- RENEWAL #3:
Date your spouse.
- February may be billed as the
month of romance, but just about all who know love know that
the months of spring pull more heart strings than any other.
Start a new hobby, take a new course, or have a private dinner
once a week -- whatever you choose, just do it together! There's
no time like the present time to restore and/or strengthen your
marriage, so express your intentions today.
- RENEWAL #4:
Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit.
- One way to carry out all three
at once is to exercise...outdoors. There's nothing like fresh
air to clear the mind and brighten the spirit, whether you're
taking a relaxing stroll or an ambitious mountain climb. So leave
the gym, the aerobic videos and the running machines behind and
take to the sidewalks, bike paths and wooded trails to get your
heart pumping. For a great piece of inspiration and advice on
this very subject, check out the April
Stress Management column, written by EP Volunteer Desiree Scales.
-
- Whether or not you live in a
part of the world that is experiencing the natural renewal of
Spring, this is always a good time of year for restoration and
reflection. Tonight, crack your bedroom window open and let the
night air cool down your worries. Allow some fresh thoughts and
fresh dreams to ease in with the breeze.
- Lisa Roberts is the mother of four,
owner of The
Entrepreneurial Parent, LLC and the author of How to Raise A Family &
A Career Under One Roof: A Parent's Guide to Home Business
(Bookhaven Press, 1997). Copies of her book are available for
purchase at EP
and through
Amazon.
|