“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wonderous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.” -Sarah Ban Breathnach
March 23rd is officially the first day of spring. While the thermostat and weather forecast might tell us that the harsh winter is not quite over, we can, just as Lilly Pulitzer declared, “Despite the forecast, live like it is spring.” This is what I have been reflecting on. Spring. Hope. Renewal. There is a reason spring is considered the ‘season of hope.’ This season reminds us there is always a chance for new beginnings. And just as nature begins its process of returning to life and vibrancy, we too can regain strength and vitality after experiencing a difficult period or a painful event.
While emotional healing doesn’t follow a specific timeframe or calendar, there is reason for hope if you allow your emotions and traumatic experiences to be fully acknowledged, felt, moved through, and processed. Just as new growth occurs and blossoms form after a period of dormancy in nature’s spring, we too have the potential to start anew. None of this new growth occurs overnight. It is a gradual process. A process that requires patience and consistency. It may require self-compassion, self-regulation, mindfulness and empathy. But the spring of your emotional journey will come.
As we witness in the changes of the seasons, nature is resilient. People are resilient too. The human capacity to overcome adversity and trauma is incredible. With support, treatment and a regimen of self-care, individuals can not only survive the hard things we experience, but actually thrive. That is where hope becomes so important. Hope that healing is possible. Hope that joy will be present in your life. Hope that our winter can develop into not only spring, but also summer. The United for Waukesha Resiliency Center is here to help you pull through the winter and welcome spring.