Okay, enough is enough-- we’re ready for spring! Enough of these gray skies loaded with buckets of rain, knee-buckling winds and snowflakes.

No discredit intended to the messengers of weather news. Heaven knows we love to hear from our television meteorologists.

Still, do you ever wonder why they keep smiling while pointing to a map of an oncoming dark weather front traveling faster than a speeding bullet from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands - aimed right at us?

Any soul faced with a seven-day forecast in living color of dark clouds, sheets of blue drenching rain powered by high winds with nary a peek of sunshine is surely bound to frown.

“There is no accounting for taste: spring is a divine season to the poet, and nothing but sleet and rain to the weatherman.”(Author unknown)
Still, hope is eternal knowing the first day of spring arrives, March 20 Tuesday. Just when we think we’ll never survive another cold winter’s day, daffodil’s yellow buds poke up through soggy dirt and make our world like new again.

It’s said weather and the moon affects folk’s attitudes. March had a full moon March 8th and a coming new moon is March 22nd. We’re creatures of the universe with influences going with that heritage, it’s said.

The respected ancient Asian practice of “Feng Shui identifies with influences of nature and teaches location of items in a home that can improve the flow of Chi, the hidden life breath that permeates the environment. Misfortune can rule a day when Chi is in disarray. Yin and Yang have to be in cosmic balance to bring harmony. Yin is cool, dark and lifeless. Yang is hot, bright and full of life. Keep these forces in harmony within your home and you’ll enjoy good luck,” according to Lillian Too’s Little Book of Feng Shui.

“Bring in fresh air by opening two windows in two different rooms once a week to let fresh air sweep away any stale Yin air. Doing this on a sunny day brings vibrant Yang energy which attracts good fortune.”
Display fresh flowers. Hang pictures of a sunrise in the south corner of a living room to open up bright avenues of growth. And there’s always the traditional “spring cleaning.”

When my young energy was bountiful every room got a whack or two of deep cleaning. Today, I’m trying to sort out and dispose of 50+ years of “good stuff.” When one is younger collecting stuff is the breath of life, the more the better! As “seasoned citizens” the challenge is how to get rid of some “good stuff.”

De-cluttering takes several orchestrated attempts and moving our hoard of treasures from one spot to another won’t work. Still, parting with memories attached to long-held items and handy-dandy possessions can be sentimentally challenging. Just can’t let go of that well-used hammer or screwdriver that has served faithfully. It’s almost a hallowed symbol of happy days past.

Or the handy kitchen junk drawer or notebook filled with age-yellowed newspaper recipes waiting to be home-cooked. Ah, maybe tomorrow - and the beat goes on.

As to clearing out the clutter of clothes let’s face it, size 6 isn’t likely going to fit us anymore. So bless a worthy charity with windfall and bring others a smile too!

Experts say don’t fret about passing stuff on, in time we’ll cut emotional-clutter apron strings. Maybe so, still the start to clear out my “good stuff” began in 1991, and if I don’t speed up soon these goodies may likely still be here when I’ve moved on to my (hopefully) celestial palace in the sky.

Spring brings the promise of sunshine and flowers as life takes on new energy and outside activities increase. Bring in bright colors, plant flowers and paint and clean up the outside of house’s and business buildings. Spring brings new opportunities and beginnings – as does life and love.

Let’s live today treasuring all the hope, love and beauty possible for everyone’s tomorrow. And remember that winter and spring -- like life and love -- can be just a daffodil blossom away.

Scripture reads, “Behold, I make all things new. It is done.” (Revelations 21.5.)

Today’s Thought: "Three-fourths of people you ever meet are hungry and thirsty for appreciation. Give it - and you’ll win their heart.” Dale Carnegie