[Seek] The Greening

One thing I adore about Spring is what I call "the greening" - that time when all the trees start to get their leaves and suddenly you realize that the world around you is turning green.
  

At one point on our eighth hike of the year, I stopped and exclaimed, "it's so green!" - a  mixture of wonder and gratitude taking over my being. I couldn't help but stop and take in all that green. As I paused to absorb it all, the music of songbirds rang through the forest and lifted my spirits even more.
 

The greening - the rebirth of the world after a long winter; the promise of brighter, warmer, longer days to come is an invitation out into the beauty of nature ... to hike, walk, picnic, play. 

For a while now, it's seemed like we've been stuck in the grayness of winter, stuck in our own quarantine bubbles, stripped of the vibrancy of community and connection. Nevertheless, if we open our eyes to what is around us, we can witness the 'greening' of our communities as people work together to heal the sick; feed the hungry; support essential workers; help those in need; support local small businesses; make and share art and music; and find new and creative ways to celebrate life's milestones. And we can bring that same spirit to our own families as we find new things to occupy our time and entertain ourselves, finding deeper connections with our loved ones in the process.

The greening provides a much needed reminder that the earth is being reborn into something new, and beautiful, and hopefully better than it was before.