Even though the sun's obscured and the weather's a bit measly, I'm happy to see spring finally here. I missed it like hell, since I hate the cold weather.
I'm particularly attached to spring traditions. I have a balcony full of potted plants, and am hoping for several pots of rosemary, basil and other such condiments to bloom. I'm also particularly attached to spring traditions. Here in Romania, on the 1st of March, you're supposed to gift a symbolic "martisor". Popular themes include chimney-sweeps, four-leaf clovers, horse-shoes and other such lucky charms for a spring of plenty. These can come as a pin to wear on your coat, a bracelet, or just a symbolic decoration.
Of course, as everything has become commercialized, the symbolic martisor has grown into all sorts of little gifts and trinkets. A friend gifted me a scented candle yesterday in honor of March 1st, though it was for a good cause, as it was from an association for kids with special needs. Besides, it was a more practical gift than the more traditional martisoare.
As I grow older, I'm focusing more on the symbolic meaning of the holiday, namely rebirth. The survival of a long, hard winter. It's where I am in my life right now, and I sort of keep saying it because for the longest time, I wasn't even aware I was in winter. If you asked me a couple years ago, I would've probably said I'm fine.
The other day, I was chatting with a friend, and she confided she was quite upset about being out of the 18-24 box (now in the 25-30, I guess) on questionnaires. It was a silly thing, but it does hit. There's a Sex and the City episode where the characters go through a similar conversation, though a decade older than us.
I took a moment to think about it. While I was sorry she felt that way, in her personal life, I thought of myself at each respective age from 18 to 24, and thought...nah. 'Cause while there's much to be said about youth and new experiences and whatnot, I think there was a lot of confusion and anger and just general hecticness in that period of my life, so I'm glad to be in this new box, I guess?
I feel new. Like the savory in my balcony, I'm sprouting anew. There's a wonderful, exhilarating feeling of renewal in the air, which makes the arrival of spring all the more heartwarming. Plus, it's Power Up Day! So yay. In this market, it's thrilling to play around with those buttons.
Luck. Powering up always makes me feel grateful, because it's an investment. It reminds me I'm not (yet) in such a desperate position as to necessitate a power down. It reminds me that for now, I can afford to invest into this wonderful platform that has nourished me down the years.
Luck? I think you make your own. But I'll don the lucky charms, just on the off-chance.
Happy first day of spring, folks!
Now is the winter of our discontent, made into glorious summer by the sun of York.
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