My husband and I realized we could no longer put off the inevitable—our house desperately needed a facelift. Some of the wood trim had rotted, and the paint had worn in patches. The longer we let it go, the harder and more expensive it would be to resolve. 
As the crew took down all the shutters, started sanding, and pulled away the rot, it occurred to me that I, too, could use a facelift. Not literally (well, maybe, but I’m too afraid to let anyone take a blade to my face). I do, however, think it’s time to freshen up for spring and summer, and not just on the outside.
Sure, I’m always up for trying a new lipstick, highlights in my hair, or a pretty pair of new earrings. Those are easy, quick fixes to perk up one’s mood, but they don’t mean much at the end of the day. What I’m really talking about is a spring-cleaning of the spirit.
It’s been a bit of a rough winter around here: career hiccups, health matters, and extended family crises, all buried under mounds and mounds of snow and ice. If you’re facing any of these kinds of issues, you know how easy it is to let the weight of everything affect you in ways that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
But just as the roots of the trees and other plants are feeding the new buds and blooms on their branches, it’s time for the rest of us to dig deep and tap into the things that get our juices going. Time to reflect on the choices we’ve made during the past several months and revisit things that aren’t working out so well, and invest more in the changes that are working. Time to call on old friends, get back into reasonable exercise routines, trim the fat from the diet, and read a few good books.
It’s tough to get started, but it’s the only way I know to break through the doldrums and renew the optimism my family needs from me in order to thrive.
I think this is something all women share…a desire to be role model and inspiration to her family. So help me out and tell me how you renew your spirits and find the best part of yourself, because I’m always up for trying something new!
XO-Jamie
