The Magic of March
I keep reading and hearing about the month of March this year and it’s got me thinking about these realities: March is inconsistent in temperatures and timing, it’s not winter but it’s not spring, it’s the end of the first quarter, it’s college basketball’s best, [it’s my son’s birthday month]…it’s a transition. No one truly loves the month of March if we’re being honest. It’s hard to plan around and unpredictable in every way. Then we lose an hour of sleep and our whole world feels off.
March represents all that we dislike about change. It’s not the beginning or the end. It’s dark and then oddly light. Stormy, wet, freezing, dry, colder and slightly warmer. It’s messy and unremarkable. It’s uncomfortable.
This is what we don’t enjoy.
We don’t like the in-between spaces of life. We like things settled, scheduled, nailed down and secure. And if things aren’t that way, we’re uncomfortable. Even if you don’t have the black and white personality like some people you know, you still probably prefer predictability over possibility.
But March is about what’s possible.
Things are taking shape that may blossom and bloom into the most beautiful scenery. Or it may be frozen and dry up and fall off. And the difference between outcomes is where the Magic of March lives.
It takes tenacity for things to grow in March. The odds are against blooming because there’s not enough sun, warmth, food and protection (at least in Nebraska!). And yet, year after year, things sprout and spring forth and grow, despite the trials and difficulties of the elements.
The Magic of March represents our own ability and capacity to be better than we are now. Believing that we aren’t going to die off, sick and tired, but instead, creating something new and interesting and beautiful. We can believe we will live the adventurous life that we have dreamt about.
So how do we do that, especially if we feel sick and tired most of the time?
Belief.
We MUST believe that we are worth it, capable of it, value it and it’s important enough that we will work on it.
Notice I didn’t say, we will receive it like magic. No. We WORK on it. It takes effort and organization. It requires thought and time and attention and money. Believing for things to get better without doing anything practical about it is just wishing. And doing the same thing that we’ve always done with more effort is just as illogical. We have to change in our approach and our reactions to the outcomes.
We have to do things differently. If things are not working, we have to change what we’re doing. Period. We can’t allow ourselves to keep making excuses for why things just don’t work out for us like they do other people. We may have to work harder or longer than other people, but they can be worked out. Believe it.
So here’s the good news: YOUR Magic of March is waiting for you. Even if you feel you are tapped out and have nothing left to give anyone, including yourself, you still have it, because it was put in you from the beginning. We have an innate desire to be good and better and then, our best. We are overcomers. We are strong and capable and able. Our destiny wasn’t written by our past; we have the space and time and energy to develop into the person of our dreams.
Now, before you accuse me of sounding ridiculous, let me remind you that I see miracles happen on a daily basis. And you do, too. We disregard them as good stories, but if we’re really looking closely, it’s a miracle. It’s magic. The story could have ended the other way, but instead, good happened. And it will happen for you, too.
How do you start? You start inside, with yourself, believing that you are worth your own time and attention. If we take that thought process to the other extreme, if you don’t believe you are worth it, then what’s the point??? Since we all know we are worth it, believe you can make some magic. Decide to believe the process will work for you. Believe you can trust yourself, not matter how many times you’ve tried in the past and it didn’t last or work.
Make the decision that you are going to care for yourself through this uncomfortable transition, like the month of March, and not look back. You’re committing to changing yourself for the better however long and hard the path is. You’re up for it.
I would be remiss if I wrote all these words without at last offering my services to help get you to your healthiest self. My Formula3 program not only addresses eating and exercise patterns, I teach you every week how to learn from the past, practice new habits and create a better future. If you’re ready to rise to the occasion, email me at kristen@klivfit.com or use the button below.
