Take 5! Nature-Inspired Jolts for Harnessing the Joy of Spring

"Sleep comes its little while. Then I wake in the valley of midnight or three a.m. to the first fragrance of spring. Which is coming, all by itself, no matter what. My body says, will this pounding ever stop? My heart says, there, there, be a good student. My body says let me up and out. I want to fondle those soft white flowers, open in the night." (Mary Oliver, "An Old Story," A Thousand Mornings)

The riotous JOY of Spring is here! Get into the Season and LIVE a little! There is an undeniable JOY in witnessing Life emerging in a zillion different ways. For the Midwest, March-into-April is that glorious liminal threshold when wintering doldrums give way to what could be the loveliest, exhilarating, most alluring season of the year, depending upon your allergy situation. Witness the onset of "Spring Fever," when afternoon lethargy induces visions of kindergarten naptime and lengthy daydreaming! Or get the tissues ready for the itchy, watery eyes and annoying runny nose as spring allergens rise with the temps. Just don't lose the Fervor with the Fever!

If you can tend to your allergies AND enJOY the season, here are five Nature-Inspired Ideas to get you off the couch and soak up the Energy, Beauty, and Sheer Joy of Earth's magnificent blooming time:

Take FIVE!

1) "Up Close and Personal" - Notice what's growing by getting down and dirty! Pay attention! If you really get close to the buds and blossoms opening around you, you'll discover an entire world of life and energy full of color, texture, nuance, and aroma that you just can't see from a distance. Go into your backyard, neighborhood park, or common space and bring your magnifier/camera. Or go in for some Nature Therapy by practicing Shinrin Yoku, or sign up for a Full-Sensory Nature Plunge. Listen. Touch. Taste. Smell. See. It's a FEAST!

2) "Busting Out the Blooms" - Repurpose egg shells as vases for Spring blooms! These tiny egg-cups are bursting with color, energy, fragrance, and surprise for littles and elders alike. Only limited by your imagination! Plant little bits of Spring's Heaven and wake up to what's growing in this tiny micro-ecosystem.

3) "Rainy Day Puddling Vessel for the Birds" - Rainy days are hallmarks of Spring. Don't miss a day designed for PUDDLING! A great DIY project is to turn a gorgeous household platter or thrift shop find into a gorgeous water vessel for our Avian-Kin. I like using tempered glass bowls (shallow, no deeper than 2 or 3 inches), placing them on a stand, level surface, or dug-out hovel in the garden, and adding fresh water, or using as a rain catchment. Then, sit yourself down, have a nice cuppa, and wait for the chirping to surround and fill you. Turn on your Merlin Bird app, and learn the chorus voices. It's a biophony that soothes and inspires!

4) "Patch Birding" - And while we're on the avian subject, tune into one small area or "patch" of your normal bird-viewing space. Focus on an area near the puddling vessel or the feeder, activate your Merlin Bird app, and note which avian-kin are the "usual suspects" who show up frequently to this micro-ecosystem. Keep track on your phone. If someone out of the ordinary shows up, make a note to learn about their habitat needs, song, and traits. Then dub them with a moniker of your imagination, something that fits their temperament or demeanor. How do you think "Yellow-Bellied Sap-Suckers" got their name? You could choose "Sally Sweetie-Seeker" instead! Don't miss your chance!

5) "Nature's Lost" Adventures for Treasure Hunters - Spring is a chance to go a little WILD, or go into the WILD a little! "Nature's Lost" Adventures combine your Love of Nature with your insatiable need for Mystery. Treasure Hunt checklists with unique items to find in natural wilderness will surprise and inspire you. Go for a walk, match the items in the checklist with the photos, follow the clues, and discover the secret coded message. If your competitive friend (or sibling, teammate, or kid?) needs a reward, schedule the Adventure with friends/companions/family members or teammates, set a time limit, and "Game ON!" An alternative to Basketball or Pickleball that gets you off the couch and into the WILD!

No matter what you decide to do this Spring, just don't miss it, neglect it, or waste it. It's JOY like no other!