Dear March - Come in - (1320)

 Emily Dickinson- 1830-1886

Dear March - Come in -

How glad I am -

I hoped for you before -

Put down your Hat -

You must have walked -

How out of Breath you are -

Dear March, how are you, and the Rest -

Did you leave Nature well -

Oh March, Come right upstairs with me -

I have so much to tell -

I got your Letter, and the Birds -

The Maples never knew that you were coming -

I declare - how Red their Faces grew -

But March, forgive me -

And all those Hills you left for me to Hue -

There was no Purple suitable -

You took it all with you -

Who knocks? That April -

Lock the Door -

I will not be pursued -

He stayed away a Year to call

When I am occupied -

But trifles look so trivial

As soon as you have come

That blame is just as dear as Praise

And Praise as mere as Blame -

March brings many things.  It brings spring along with the first signs of life after the hard cold winter.  March also brings my personal favorite...TULIPS!  I am always so excited for March, the winters in New England are long and brutal.  Spring signifies renewal and awakening.  This is a good time to try to clean out the dust and make way for renewal and new life.  Here is your Ultimate Guide to March:  4 things you can do this month.

Read

March is the perfect month to read a new book.  If you are an avid reader, this might not seem new.  It’s a nice time to try a new genre of book.  If you always read mysteries, try romance, replace nonfiction with fiction, or read a book about characters from a different background.  Use this month to expand your horizons, and viewpoints through reading.  March is also women’s history month in the United States.  You can read a book about women who have changed American society for the better.

Spring Cleaning

Brushes available on www.sophiessustainables.com

Spring cleaning is so satisfying to me for some reason.  I just love the look of a clean house with the first rays of spring sunshine shining through freshly cleaned windows.  Spring cleaning might not bring you the same sense of satisfaction as it does to me, but it still can serve a purpose.  It’s a good opportunity to declutter and organize your space.  A clean space allows for creative energy to flow and a pathway for renewal.

Early Morning Run

 

Taking an early morning run or walk in the brisk morning air is a wonderful way to start your day.  You will feel refreshed and energized all day.  Some benefits of running regularly are:  

• reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke
• reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• lower risk of developing cancer
• lower risk of developing neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases

If running isn’t your thing, you can always go for a morning walk.  Benefits of walking everyday are:  

• Walking can improve your mood
• Walking improves fitness
• Improves cardiac health  
• Alleviates depression and fatigue 
• Creates less stress on joints than running 
• Can prevent weight gain
• Reduce risk for cancer and chronic disease
• Improve endurance, circulation, and posture

Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

Yoga or Meditation

Cork Yoga mat available on www.sophiessustainables.com

 

Keeping with the renewal theme, Yoga can help you tap into the renewal energy.  Benefits of yoga:

• Improves strength, balance and flexibility
• Relieves back pain
• Eases arthritis symptoms
• Benefits heart health
• Relaxation and better sleep
• Helps you manage stress

If you aren’t ready to try yoga, meditation is a good alternative.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, mediation is defined as:   1 : to engage in contemplation or reflection 2 : to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.

There are 9 popular types of meditation that you can try.  

• Mindfulness meditation
• Spiritual meditation
• Focused meditation
• Movement meditation
• Mantra meditation
• Transcendental meditation
• Progressive relaxation
• Loving-kindness meditation

Cheers to March!