Sunday Inspiration: Spring

 

Thankful Thursday: March 19, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

A sunny day

Time with my grandsons

Margaritas

Laughter

Pepper plants have sprouted

Thunderstorms at night

Fog lifting off the mountains like smoke

When my dogs get the zoomies

A dusting of snow

Beef and Guinness stew

Holds available at library

Heated car seats

Music

When my son makes me laugh

Clean laundry

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

 

May you always have walls for the winds,

a roof for the rain,

tea beside the fire,

laughter to cheer you,

those you love near you,

and all your heart might desire.

~Irish Blessing

Give Yourself Permission

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to wait.

We waited for approval.

For the “right time.”

For someone to tell us it was okay to do what we wanted to do.

We became experts at meeting expectations. At being dependable, capable, accommodating. We showed up for everyone else. And while that strength carried us far, it also quietly taught us that our own needs could wait.

We became the dependable ones. The helpers. The glue. We learned early how to be responsible, agreeable, and self-sacrificing. We learned that being "good" meant being quiet and keeping the peace.

Midlife has a way of challenging that belief.

It shows up as restlessness you can’t quite name. A sense that the life you built no longer fits the way it once did. A gentle but persistent feeling that something needs to shift.

And still, we hesitate.

We ask ourselves, Am I allowed?

Is it too late?

What will they think?

So let me say this with love: Give yourself permission.

You have been carrying a lot, and you no longer have to carry what isn’t yours. You are allowed to evolve. What made sense at 30 doesn’t have to define you at 50.

Choosing yourself doesn’t mean abandoning others. It means showing up whole instead of depleted. It means modeling what it looks like to honor your needs, your boundaries, your truth.

And yes, it may feel uncomfortable at first. Growth usually does. But something remarkable begins to unfold when you stop waiting for someone else’s permission.

This season of life isn’t asking you to become someone new—it’s inviting you to finally come home to yourself. You don’t need a dramatic overhaul. One small, brave step is enough.

So give yourself permission. To pause. To change. To choose yourself

You are allowed.

You are ready.

Give yourself permission.

Sunday Inspiration: Nature

 

Nature never hurries itself, and it never apologizes for the season it’s in. Midlife asks the same of us—to stop measuring, stop comparing, and simply be where we are. It’s a season of gathering what we’ve learned and letting something new begin. A time to trust that new growth is still quietly taking shape, even if it’s subtle. 

Thankful Thursday: March 12, 2026

I Am Thankful For:

Sunshine

Smiles shared between strangers

Helping someone find a library book

Phone calls with my daughter

A day trip with my husband

Perogi and kielbasa from the Polish market

My cucumber and tomato seeds starting to sprout

Polish candies

A warm breeze

Iris bulbs

A great book club meeting

Handwritten letters

Puttering  in my greenhouse

Reading in bed

The sound of rainfall

Sunday Inspiration: A Voice

Midlife opens us to the freedom of thinking independently, speaking our truth, and contributing original ideas rather than simply repeating what others say or believe.  In a world full of noise and imitation, stand for your values, even when it’s uncomfortable, and trust that your perspective matters. 

Thankful Thursday: March 5, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

A lovely afternoon at craft group

Foggy mornings

Camper shopping

Starting seeds for spring planting

A beautiful first day of March

A morning walk with the dogs at Biltmore Estate

Geese on the river

Daffodils

Cherry float Coke Zero Sugar

New information

A morning with the grandkid

Afternoons on the deck

Wildflowers appearing in the grass

The glimmer of a plan

Love

Making the Most of March

March is the month where winter starts to loosen its grip and the first hints of spring begin to appear. Longer days, fresh air, and a renewed sense of energy make March the perfect time to get out of hibernation mode and try something new. With that in mind, I’ve rounded up some activities to help you enjoy everything March has to offer.

Enjoy some spring produce. Strawberries, artichokes, asparagus, and peas are a few of the fruits and vegetables that are in season during March. Head to your local produce stand or farmers market and pick up some of your favorites.

International Women’s Day is March 8th. Enjoy a book or documentary about women leaders or changemakers. (Bonus points if it was written or directed by a woman) Support a woman owned business.  Let the women who inspire you know just how much you appreciate them with a letter, phone call, or message. March is also Women's History Month, so don't limit your appreciation, support, and learning to just one day!

Embrace play as exercise. Getting your daily exercise doesn’t have mean going to the gym. Reconnect with the things that bring you joy! Try roller skating, jumping rope, a game of kickball, throwing a frisbee, or dancing. Play as exercise can boost your cardio and strength, improve coordination, and reduce stress.

Go for a drive.  Roll down the windows, crank up the volume on your favorite tunes and enjoy the open road.

Pi day (March 14) Observe the day dedicated to the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter of the same circle by enjoying your favorite circular foods. Pie is the obvious choice. But what about Pi-zza? Or some cookies or a cake decorated with the Pi symbol?  See who among your family or friends has the most digits of Pi memorized.  Or try your hand at writing "pi-ku" - a piece with a 3-1-4 syllable structure. 

Go for a spring hike. Head out on your favorite trail or explore a new one.  Look for signs of spring - buds on the trees, the first hints of green, or spring wildflowers - along the way.

Read a book outside.  Enjoy these first warm days of spring by taking your book outside to read while soaking up the fresh air and sunshine.  

Celebrate St. Patrick Day on March 17th. Everyone can be a little Irish one day a year.  Wear your favorite green. Have some Irish stew, Dublin coddle, or Colcannon. Pour your favorite Irish drink - whether that's an Irish coffee, Irish whiskey, or a pint of Guiness.  Listen to some Irish tunes.  Watch an Irish movie or tv show.  I recommend "Rebellion" or "House of Guiness" - both can be found on Netflix.

Hang a birdfeeder. Give the birds that have winter edition in your area a reliable food source and prepare for the ones that will soon be making their spring migration.  Watching birds is a peaceful, relaxing activity and having a bird feeder helps maintain a healthy, diverse bird population - especially in more urban areas.

Stop scrolling.  For one day, turn off the phone or leave it behind. Give yourself a break from the information overload. Try one of the other activities on this list to distract you.

Celebrate the first day of Spring (March 20).  You did it! You made it through another long, cold winter. Wake up early and welcome the sunrise.  Set your intentions or goals for the season.  Or enjoy one of the other activities on this list to welcome in Spring.

Spring cleaning.  It doesn't have to be your whole house. Do one room or clean out your closet or dresser. Spring cleaning reduces indoor allergens, reduces stress, and can improve focus and productivity. 

Plant something. Start some seeds for your summer vegetable garden or sprinkle some wildflower seeds outside. If you're short on outdoor space, try creating a windowsill herb garden or a small container garden. 

Spend some quality time with your furry family member on National Puppy Day (March 23rd). If you don't have a canine companion of your own, visit the dogs at your local shelter or make a donation to help out a dog rescue. Take a walk and pet every puppy you see (always ask first!)

Lighten Up.  Add some pastels to your life. I'm thinking of a new (or better yet - thrifted) top or dress, a ready-for-spring nail polish, or some spring candles.

After months of cold and stillness, March is your cue to step outside a little more, breathe a little deeper, and make space for small joys. Whether you try one thing on this list or weave a few of them into your month, I hope March brings you moments of light, playfulness, and renewal. Winter did its thing—but now it’s time to gently wake up and welcome what’s next.

Sunday Inspiration: March

 

March is here, bringing a fresh vibe and a hint of spring in the air. The days start getting longer, the weather slowly warms, and everything feels like it’s waking up again. It’s a good time to shake off winter, try something new, and enjoy the little signs that brighter days are on the way.

Thankful Thursday: February 26, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

Spring-like February days

A letter from a dear friend

My husband's new truck

Starting seeds in my little greenhouse

My grandson's birthday 

Grocery run with my husband

Cozy socks

A friendly wager with my cousin

Waking up to a dusting of snow

Cute earrings

A bowl of Greek yogurt with berries

Books that make me want to learn more

A good check-up for my dog

Sunday Inspiration: Your Time

 

*

Thankful Thursday: February 19, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

My hair 

Car rides with my husband

A beautiful bouquet of roses

A valentine from my grandson

My grandson's laugh

Brownie sundaes

French toast

Morning meditation

Sunny days

Learning something new

Immediately feeling connected to a book

Playing with my dogs

A productive day

My order finally shipped