I’m still waiting for the last snow bank to melt outside the back door. My guess is it’ll linger, grainy and gray, for another week or so.
I suppose I could get out there today and attack winter’s last frozen carapace with a shovel. If I got that mound of snow and ice all broken up and spread out on the flattened, spongy lawn, it would probably disappear faster.
Instead, I look at winter’s grimy remains and see an invitation to pay attention. The lingering, slowly dwindling snow bank reminds me once again: nothing lasts. Even the harsh, seemingly endless winter I complained about and struggled against for months is finally on its way out, its last vestiges vanishing by the moment.
On this windy, chilly spring day, it’s too early to do much of anything productive outside. And so, I walk around and survey the wreckage: the old front gate, broken off at the hinge, the fallen tree limbs, the cache of dead leaves in the window wells, the skeletal remains of the Christmas tree on the patio, the dead hydrangea blooms I never got around to pruning in the fall. I could easily get overwhelmed by the to-do list formulating in my head — so much work to be done.
Instead, I simply look around in wonder at the relentless, reassuring continuance of Nature. The year has its rhythms, its phases, as do I. There is a time to honor the winter of the soul, to turn inward and rest, gathering potential for the next season. And there’s a time to gently clear space for what’s greening inside, waiting its moment to emerge.
It occurs to me that, for today at least, I’m being offered an opportunity to straddle two seasons here. I can step out my back door, rest a bare palm on gritty snow that’s been fallow since November’s first storm, and recall the hard lessons of winter: accept the cauterizing cold, welcome the darkness, surrender your well-laid plans, let go into things as they are, practice patience, have faith.
Or, I can simply round the corner, to the southern side of the house, and inhale the eager elation of spring. Out here, an entire flock of robins have landed, as if to celebrate the thaw; they are busily extracting worms from the water-logged grass.
Over by the stone wall, a pair of yellow crocuses have asserted themselves where, just yesterday, there was nothing but bare ground. There are crimson peony shoots pushing forth just outside the kitchen door, too, as if they’ve been waiting impatiently to take their rightful place. It is mid-April, after all.
Standing out in my bare garden, face tipped up to the sun, I marvel at just how much life pulses in a single moment. It seems there’s something stirring in me, too: permission to grow and stretch and break some new ground.
Don’t get caught in the past,
because the past is gone.
Don’t get upset about the future,
because the future is not yet here.
There is only one moment for you to be alive,
and that is the present moment.
Go back to the present moment
and live this moment deeply,
and you’ll be free.
~ Buddha
(with thanks to Claudia Cummins at First Sip)
What’s greening these days in your backyard, or in your heart?
Thinking ahead to Mother’s Day
IT’S COMING RIGHT UP – MAY 11!
first, the give-away:
Know a mom who likes to listen to books? I have 3 copies of “Magical Journey” on Audible to give away.
To win, just leave me a comment below.
(Want to help spread the word? Share this post on Facebook.)
On April 28, I’ll choose 3 winners at random.
The Audible version of “Magical Journey” will be delivered, as a gift, to the e-mail inboxes of the winners’ choosing. (And you get to write a personal message to accompany it.) I recorded the audio book myself — a wonderful, intimate experience. To hear an excerpt, Click here. (Or, to order your own, click here.)
now, some gift-giving options:
I’d be honored to have you share any of my books with a special mom in your life. And I want to make that easy for you!
- If you’d like a book –or books!– personalized and signed, click here to link to my wonderful local bookstore. When you fill out the form, include anything you’d like me to write. Want your books gift-wrapped? They will happily do that, too! Perfect!
2. Buying your books elsewhere? As always, I have a stash of bookplates – lots! A bookplate makes any book a lovelier gift. Ask for as many as you can use. Click here. (Be sure to include the names of your recipients, and your mailing address. Postage is on me!)
**Congratulations to Amy Robertson, winner of a copy of Motherhood Realized.
Hello
I’m from Portugal
I wish that your book was published here.
Propose that to your agent 🙂
A hug from on this side of the Atlantic
The ground has dried enough to start prepping for peas (in my second choice spot in the garden (first choice spot is still mud). The crocus I finally got around to planting last fall have joined the snowdrops by the back door, and the rhubarb is doing its magnificent unfurling.
The tree outside my window is finally in bloom. It’s beautiful.
Often, when struggling with words of my own, I click on your incoming posts and there find all I could ever want to say and more. Guess I’m off the hook for my own blog once again. Haha. Thank you for the beauty you bring to my life. Happy Spring. – Melody
Beautiful words, both yours and Buddha’s, and pictures too. The word “pulsing” has been in my mind this week, weirdly (or not) … everything is suddenly, overnight, startlingly alive, full of insistent nascence and riotous fecundity. LOVE. xoxox
Thank you for the chance to win the Audible version of your book. I am an avid user of Audible and have passed many hours folding clothes and doing dishes while listening to audio books. As a child I loved to “be read to” and I find it just as comforting as an adult. 🙂
“Staying – in mind and body and spirit – was in itself a kind of journey, and traveling quietly at her side to death’s door was, apart from giving birth, the single most important thing I have ever done.”
This quote is incredibly poignant to me ( as I’m sure it is to many others). I’ve just ‘walked this walk’ with my dearest cousin. Having no sisters of my own, she was as good as it gets and I love her. I was deeply honoured to spend 6 weeks with her as she made this last journey. What a spirit!! What laughter and joy we shared: in the end, the sorrow is mine – she is in a much better place.
I’d love a copy of this book for my mother – as the aunty, she too made the journey with my cousin, albeit in a different manner.
My son was in his sophomore year at Julliard and was having some issues. As a mother, I was distraught and didn’t know how to help him. I happened to pick up a copy of “Magical Journey” at our local Barnes and Noble. I copied the letter you wrote to yourself, and sent it to him. It was on page 266, and ended this way:” Let go and breathe into the goodness that you already are. Move with the current, not against it. Resist nothing. Let life carry you. You have work to do. Begin it.” Next month, my son will graduate from Temple University. He practices Mindful Meditation
and is a wonderful human being who has much to teach me. I would love a copy of your audiobook. It was a blessing in my life. It planted a seed which made something
beautiful grow, just like my yard and my flowers will bloom after the winter’s harshness. Thank you
I love all of your books! I would love to win an audible version. Thank you for the giveaway!!
The surest sign of spring for me is the return of the peepers -I love hearing them as evening draws close…..
As the Mother of 3 boys one teenagers, I have always enjoyed your message reminding me to enjoy the ordinary days….. I would love to listen to your book . Happy Spring from Cape Cod!
Ordinary Day has been a way to help me frame my current parenting. It stays in my e-book shelf and I refer to it whenever I need to kind of reorient myself to what is important in parenting life. I just learned of another new book called Brave Parenting that I purchased for my ebook shelf but have yet to read. I would also love to listen to your newest book in your own voice. It is a lovely start to spring for whoever receives your audible books.
I would love to win the audible version.
I would love to listen to you reading your own words; my last mountain of snow melted this week, robins are everywhere and sprouts of lingering underground life are pushing through the still frozen soil…soon the perfume of spring will fill the air.
I’d love to win! And I love your blogs! Thank you!
Love your books! I would love to win an audible version!
I found you a couple of years ago and read The Gift of An Ordinary Day. Now, your newer book is on my nightstand, and I’ve read most of it as well. As the mother of a newly married daughter, 25, and two sons, 22, and 17, I am approaching the empty nest in about 16 months. Time has flown, but I feel so blessed! I do try to stay in the moment, and appreciate the richness of this season of life. Easier said than done sometimes, as it’s easy to think of should haves and what ifs. Anyway, I find myself looking to see if you have posted something new, and also Heather Lende in Alaska (I’ve read some of her work, as well.) Both of you are my age, and I guess I consider you fellow travelers. Now, perhaps, I will get started on my own writing, something I’ve wanted to do, and have the time to do now!
Thank you for pointing out the seasonal straddle. It occurs to me that we also do that in the seasons of our lives and it can be an uncomfortable stance.
Happy Spring Katrina,
I just returned from the Texas library convention where the temperature was 84 degrees and no humidity. We too have had a cold winter for South Texas and greenery is about 2 weeks behind. The fields of glorious bluebells ( small relatives of the lupine) between Houston and San Antonio were a reminder that spring is well and truly here this week. I wish the same for you, My saving grace for three hours besides the bluebells and time to think was an audio book. I love audio books and I know from your you tube video how splendid your reading is…of course iyour video made me cry and I sent the link to my daughters. Yup, it made them cry also! Thanks!
Holly
I just started a new job that I love but it means I have to drive further. I would love to listen to your book as I travel!
Thank you for your wonderful, insightful writing about mothering. My husband and I hiked on a local wooded trail yesterday and noticed some branches clung to last year’s dead leaves while others were filled with buds swelling with new life. The leaf litter was thick underfoot as sun streamed down on us. In a few weeks, the green of new life will transform everything. Welcome, spring!
I have just started listening to books and would be so happy to hear yours!
I just listened to the excerpt from your book and it sounds like something I’d love to listen to while enjoying the sun once this never-ending winter is over ………
I’ve been reading your books over and over for years – and would love to listen on my commute too! Thanks for the opportunity!
Tara
A lovely reminder to stay present and amazed. Thank you. xo
“The year has its rhythms, its phases, as do I. There is a time to honor the winter of the soul, to turn inward and rest, gathering potential for the next season. And there’s a time to gently clear space for what’s greening inside, waiting its moment to emerge.”
You’re absolutely right, Katrina. Love these words, and this lovely post.
What’s greening in my yard? After a burst of warm weather last weekend, our scilla, crocuses, and hellebores are in bloom, and our daffodils are budding. Yarrow is sending up tentative leaves, solomon’s seal is emerging, and our lilacs are leafing out. Today, a bitter wind is blowing, and snow is falling steadily. Here, too, we’re straddling the seasons!! xoxo
Twelve to fifteen inches of snow to fall in the next couple of days in northern Wisconsin. I bet it will be beautiful as well as comforting to know that warmer days surely will follow. Snow shoes hikes or planting the garden. Mother Nature will let me know. It is all good.
It was 70 for my daughter’s wedding on Saturday and this morning we had 2 inches of snow. The wedding tulips are on the sunny porch and the pansies are drenched in white. Love your phrase of staddling the seasons. Thanks for the thoughts, I will look for this new book having enjoyed the others. Linda
Everything is turning green here in Virginia! There are so many different shades of green.
Every morning, something new has emerged….a few purple iris, my lilacs are blooming, and tulips!! Spring always surprises me!