Spring – a season for new beginnings!

What does spring and new beginnings mean to you? With spring supposedly here, we’ve been thinking about how it will soon be time to do some planting in our garden. We enjoy watching the tender shoots of tiny plants poking their heads up from the earth to experience the beginnings of new lives – lives that will be filled with both rain and sunshine. We realized that the plants’ new beginnings can be a metaphor for the new beginnings that happen as we have transitions in life. Sure, there will be storms in life and it won’t be all sunshine, but as we make choices to try some new ways, new beginnings, there are opportunities that we might never have imagined.

Sometimes new beginnings are not planned. These might include a job loss or the passing of someone close to you. Maybe it’s an accident that happens or a relationship that ends and you are not ready for a “new beginning”. The familiar may be comfortable, and even if it’s uncomfortable, often it can feel safer than the unknown. What we don’t always think about is that a new beginning could be a time of great opportunity for more happiness and meaning in life. Some people remain “stuck”, sometimes for years, before making changes. Maybe it takes forgiving yourself and others or leaving a negative past behind so you can benefit from new beginnings. Guy Finley said, “The greatest power you possess is your understanding that life gives you a fresh start any moment you choose”. It’s never too late for new beginnings.

Whether a new beginning is planned, unexpected or forced, having a positive attitude is important. Perseverance is also necessary. Just like the little plants emerging from the ground in the garden, in life you will also have to weather the storms. Just as the buds on the trees recently experienced setbacks as they started to come out and were hit with cold weather, you might also experience some setbacks. The key is to not give up. The buds will eventually come out and grow into lush leaves. When you persevere, with patience and resilience, you will overcome your setbacks and be able to reach your goals.

We stopped in at Garden by the Woods, a Chanhassen plant nursery, to find out what the people working there had to say about new beginnings happening in spring. Linda Walton told us, “Everyone here is waiting anxiously for spring to come. I know for myself, what I look forward to are the smells – to smell the green and to smell the beautiful flowers and to get my hands dirty – to play in my yard. It’s just a wonderful time of year. I enjoy it very much but it’s hard waiting.”

Then we met Gretchen Cashmore who told us her ideas about spring. She said, “What spring means to me is that good smell of dirt. Everything comes alive in the spring – it’s like it’s been sleeping for so long and it’s just fun to see what’s coming up. Everything coming back to life, I think that’s the best thing about spring.”

Terry Cohen also shared her thoughts about spring. Terry said, “I like spring. I like to just know it’s supposed to get warmer. Even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, I keep hoping it’s got to get here soon. I really enjoy reconnecting with some of our clients and customers who come in. We have quite a few customers who are more like family than they are just a customer. We get hugs and even little gifts from them, from time to time. What I look forward to is helping the customers be successful with their gardening for the season.” Terry added that she hopes people will come to Garden by the Woods Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21, to share in lots of fun activities for all ages.

Although spring is known as a season for new beginnings, any time can be a time for new beginnings. What about you? What new beginnings will you choose with your spring planting and in your life?

Here’s a challenge: To have the most successful garden, and life, start out with a plan for your desired new beginnings. Remember, just as plants need to be nurtured, you need to nurture yourself and also to receive good care from friends and family to help you along the way. Although some storms might hit, with love and attention, your plants and your life can grow from new beginnings to full bloom.

Chanhassen residents Doug and Lynn Nodland are Success Coaches and owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2018 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.