Beauty Of Spring

 It is a season of green leaves, blooming flowers and bright skies with occasional rain. After months of harrowing cold and dreary days, now it is spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. Most of us prefer spring over winter any day. When cold seeps into the bones, even warm rays of winter sun cannot alleviate the chilliness. But once spring arrives, suddenly there is lightness in our steps and a feeling of jubilation. The change feels welcome with splashes of rain and sunshine. 

If one is to pore over art and culture in English literature, one can find legions of references to spring. William Wordsworth, the renowned English poet, believed that the harmony of nature contrasts with the discord of humanity. He considered nature to be a conscious being that humans fail to acknowledge. While most people see spring as it is, Wordsworth largely described it as something that does. Nature seems to bask in its own glory during the spring, only humans fail to see its real essence, one that is devoid of any artifice. To Wordsworth, this season is a physical manifestation of joy. It isn’t only about the pleasant change in the weather; it is also an active, conscious state of happiness found in nature, as he observes in his poems about spring. 

Nature is a great muse to creative artists, whether they are painters, singers, writers or poets. It isn’t surprising that there are plenty of inspirations to be found in the spring. Most flowers bloom this season, particularly a famous one that is the cherry blossom. Its light colours contrast with the green leaves and branches forming a sort of floral canopy in the streets. The view is, of course, incredible. Yet, instead of pausing and embracing this view, people limit it to the fodder for social media. In the lack of harmony, humanity can rarely see the true beauty of spring. As such, when the mind is in a dark place, it can seem taxing to take in the beauty of nature. 

Psychologists, however, differ. Spending time in nature is healing. Being open to our senses and taking in nature in its full glory can bring a sense of exhilaration. Mental health is at its best when the sun is bright, the air is full of the aroma of flowers, the greenery is vivid enough to evoke feelings of joy and the sounds of birds chirping fill the sky. Cold days bring in SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), particularly when there is a dearth of sunshine, which is why spring is immensely welcome to many. But what would be the point of spring, if we don’t stop and admire its splendor and grace?

 In the urban world, nature is limited to flowers in a vessel, trees on sidewalks and birds on wires. If you value your mental health, make sure that you spend time in nature. You could do some gardening or even take pleasant walks in the park. You could listen to the pattering of rain on the rooftop. And you could spend some time in the sun, especially in the morning, to regulate your cortisol level. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, remember to bask in the spring before the mercury rises.