{"id":10167,"date":"2015-03-29T12:33:52","date_gmt":"2015-03-29T16:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/?p=10167"},"modified":"2015-03-29T12:33:52","modified_gmt":"2015-03-29T16:33:52","slug":"spring-and-the-promise-of-a-fresh-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/2015\/03\/spring-and-the-promise-of-a-fresh-start.html","title":{"rendered":"spring, and the promise of a fresh start"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"the<\/a>
the author’s fat squirrel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today when I filled bird feeders, I looked out over the yard. Everywhere there’s the flush of rose & pink, and the backdrop of pale green that only comes in spring.<\/p>\n

Once I had the sunflower tray filled, the fat squirrel that’s half-tame was in it, stuffing fat cheeks. And the finches are on one of the other feeders, their breast feathers already red. A bluejay is on the small seed tray, and a robin was hoovering the deck floor, looking for dropped tidbits.<\/p>\n

In the corner of the yard, our crabapple is blooming her head off: bright flowers fading to creamy pink as they open. In other words, spring is definitely here.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
the author’s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With it come the religious markers: Passover & Easter the best-known in the US, but most religions observe spring. Next month is Theravada New Year for Buddhists; yesterday was Ram Navami (the birthday of Ram, a holy day for Hindus); the Baha’i celebrated their New Year last week.<\/p>\n

We celebrate the return of the sun, the greening of the brown landscape. Snow melts, rain falls, and that greeny fragrance floats on softened winds. It’s a new beginning — new leaves, new life.<\/p>\n

For that reason, I’m thinking of fresh starts. Not the ‘official’ New Year, which holds little allure for me. But this freshening of life all around: the mating calls of mourning doves, the bravado of jays. Today is a good day to make new promises to ourselves, as the earth keeps hers.<\/p>\n

What would you like to do this coming spring & summer? What is it you resolve? It’s a time of growth. Cash in on it — make a promise to yourself. And keep it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today when I filled bird feeders, I looked out over the yard. Everywhere there’s the flush of rose & pink, and the backdrop of pale green that only comes in spring. Once I had the sunflower tray filled, the fat squirrel that’s half-tame was in it, stuffing fat cheeks. And the finches are on one…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":398,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[576,376,926,925,477],"tags":[11,1181,1187,262,1277,254,980,1296],"class_list":["post-10167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-everyday-living","category-gardening","category-new-years","category-new-years-resolutions-2","category-spring","tag-beginners-heart","tag-britton-gildersleeve","tag-buddhism","tag-buddhist-blogs","tag-gardening","tag-new-years-resolutions","tag-promises","tag-spring"],"yoast_head":"\nspring, and the promise of a fresh start - Beginner's Heart<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Today when I filled bird feeders, I looked out over the yard. 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