There are many traditions and rituals that we have created to honor the seasons. As Spring arrives and the plants blossom and bloom, we’re often called to our own season of growth, development, and renewal. As part of earth’s ecosystem, many of us feel inspired to do some type of renewal ritual this time of year, whether it’s spring cleaning or starting something new.
I’ve been cleaning, clearing, weeding out, recycling, donating, and creating space in my home, in my office, and in my garden. I thought that kind of external cleaning and clearing was enough for my own renewal. But, I realized, there was/is more. My relationships also needed pruning and fertilizing for a new season of growth.
My husband, Dave, and I celebrated our 30-year wedding anniversary last month. As a tribute to the many seasons we’ve experienced together, we decided to renew our vows. Talk about a wow!
We went to Austin to have our kids be part of the ceremony; our son, Alex, was the best man, and our 
daughter, Lauren, the maid of honor. It was an unforgettable experience and tribute to the people we’ve been, the circumstances we’ve navigated, and the decades and iterations of the marriage we’ve experienced together. This time around we wrote our own vows. Writing, reading, and listening to our vows was one of the most heartfelt things we could have done, not only for ourselves, but also for all that witnessed.
We have grown and developed together through thick and thin, and the vows of commitment mean much more now than they could’ve as a promise back then. We’ve weeded the garden of our relationship over time, we’ve planted new seeds, and together, we watched them blossom and grow. Now, we give much more time, care and tenderness to each other and ourselves. Spring is a promise that we will see the fruits of our labors and our loves. What will grow is not only what we sow, but also what we tenderly care for.
Although each of us may have a different way of ushering in the newness of the season, it is here, now. Regardless of what you choose to grow, it’s helpful to begin with pruning what’s already there. Clearing out, cleaning up, giving away and saying goodbye to what no longer aligns with how you want to feel about what and who is in your life, makes room for the new.
What is the seed within you that is calling you to stretch out of your comfort zone to grow and develop? I offer you a challenge to spend some quiet time, preferably, in nature, inquiring into these questions…
- What do you want to focus on this season of your life, to cultivate and grow?
- What new commitments are you willing to make in service of that focus?
- What do you want to recommit to?
- What do you want to give away or let go of?
- What do you want to be different in your relationships?
- The one with yourself
- The one with your family member(s)
- The one with your friend(s)
- The one with other(s)?
- The one with your career/work in the world?
The season for Growth, Rejuvenation, and Restoration is here.
Plant your garden intentionally. Please share your responses. I’d love to support you in-tending to what you want to grow versus letting the weeds take over.