The February Doldrums

Yes, I realize that it is the middle of March. But they started in February so it can still be called that, right?

In homeschooling we talk a lot about January and February being the hardest months to homechool, but I think it's because January and February... and March... are the hardest months to get excited about anything. It's dreary outside, it's cold, it's often wet... In Colorado when it's been that way pretty much straight through since October, you're pretty sick of it by the start of the new year.

In theory, my February Doldrums should be over by now. But while I'd had the typical "blah" mental state since the middle of January, I didn't really get anything to be down about until the end of February. Then on Friday, driving home from work in the snow, my car slid into the back of another car. There was minimal damage but the guy was a jerk and it was just overall not a fun situation. Sometimes it's hard to look on the bright side.

I tell you this because it's 65 and gorgeous today. The sun is shining, you can roll the windows down when you're driving, I went for a run in the amazing fresh air. There is almost no reminder of the winter storm that we had just days ago. I love that. I've always said that the sunshine is one of the only reason I can tolerate Colorado winters (this is my 6th). The grass is even green underneath the melting snow. LOVE IT!

I love the promise of which it reminds us. The winter is short, spring is coming and everything is new again. February is the shortest month of the year, and maybe for a good reason. I love to think of the rebirth that we see happening all around us each spring. I love even more that we have the ability to experience that rebirth in ourselves as this funk passes.

While I haven't had the greatest last few months, I have found that I have been clinging to God more than ever recently. I truly feel like he is carrying me through. If I hadn't, my risk for apathy would have grown and grown. It sucks to be in that position.