THE FIRST GREEN SHOOT OF THE YEAR sets the world in motion.
We watch life return to all that once lay bare as nature starts showing off a confetti of colors—the air bright with possibility. This is the greatest gift that spring offers our hearts and minds—it reminds us that we can begin again. Because every spring is an origin story, an invitation to nurture all the good that has already taken root. Whether it’s the bud of a tulip we planted the fall before or one of the earliest crops breaking through the soil, that first sign of new life in the garden shifts my attention to the season now at hand. No matter how long or cold the winter has been, a new chapter is here.
Though this moment tends to come about suddenly, I like to think it doesn’t have to pass quickly. That with some intention and consideration, we can harness its hope and strength to then nourish the parts of our own life that might be craving their own fresh start—a chance to spend a moment or two in the light and warmth and promise of spring.
And while nurture comes naturally in nature, this issue has opened my eyes to the effort it can require of us. In the midst of life’s distractions and responsibilities, thoughtful repetition becomes essential to carving out space to nurture the things we love and the person we’re growing into. I’m learning that it doesn’t always have to look one way—that we can nurture small things, like the joy of rolling out a batch of cookies, just as much as the big things, like our closest relationships—and that all parts of our life can bloom because of it.
