This time of year, everyone seems to be talking about one of three things: microwaving Peeps, coloring dirty words onto Easter eggs or over-eating at some random relative's house while discussing sports. The occasional comment of snow/rain/sun also sneaks into the conversation from time to time, but usually only on commercial breaks. While I enjoy microwaving marshmallow animals as much as the next person (try putting two in together, face to face, and putting toothpicks in them... that way they joust as they puff!!) I tend to think more about the changing of the season and the welcoming back of greenery into our days at this time of year.

I find myself looking at the trees beginning to bud and the hidden flowers sprouting out of every nook and cranny and think, this is literally, a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong, I love winter, probably much more than the average Cincinnatian, but even me, the self pro-claimed Snow Queen, find myself looking forward to the colorful spring displays nature puts on each year.

I like to think of spring as more than just an excuse to clean and suffer from seasonal allergies. I think of it as a time to put new ideas into action. A time to dust off old plans and find new ways to make them happen this year. Everybody thinks New Years is the best time to put together resolutions. I think that's wrong. I think spring should be the time to sprout goals and plans and dreams and it's a much better time to actually chase after them! Its easy to say in January that you'll walk more or eat better or try harder but in reality, when you look out to the grey sky, you're going to go put on another blanket, a thicker pair of socks, eat a hearty, heavy meal and plunk yourself on your couch watching re-runs of your favorite TV show for the next three months.

My though is, why not allow yourself some comfortable hibernation? What's wrong with enjoying the holidays to the fullest and letting yourself relax for a few months? Enjoy the slow season for the very reason that it IS slow and allow yourself some rest before everything wakes back up again. Just be ready to go when the time comes...

When the trees bud, when the tulips sprout, when your allergies start acting up, THAT'S when you should start energizing yourself for your new year. Your body will wake up and it will be time to get up and grow. When you look out the window and most of the ice has melted, that's the best time to head out into the world and make the changes you've been pondering since Christmas. Winter is the time to plan, spring is the time to put those plans into action. As cliche as it sounds, our thoughts really are like seeds. Put them in the ground when everything's dormant, but when its time to come alive, they should be prepped and ready to go!

So, since we've all had more than enough time to veg out on the couch this winter, its time to get up, shed some layers and get out into the new, green world and make some changes. Its time to grow and time to smile, its time to suffer from our seasonal allergies and be happy the sky isn't grey anymore. It's time to crudely color eggs and spend time laughing with family. So take to your microwaves, set those chicks to jousting and get your butts outside and DO something this year! Make it worth the winter wait!

- Maggie Raffel

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