Summer receives most of the hype, but we suspect that spring just might be the most popular of seasons: mild temperatures, birds singing in the trees, flowers blooming and a sense of rebirth form a rising tide that lifts all moods. Here are some of our favorite things about spring:
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1. Tiny Leaves on the Trees
Few sights inspire a more hopeful feeling than the first appearance of tiny green leaves on tree branches. It means winter is finally behind us and Mother Nature is on the verge of putting on a show.
2. Flying a Kite
Whether you’re teaching a youngster how to send a kite aloft or enjoying a solo flight, there’s something about a kite high in the air that brings out the kid in each of us.
READ MORE: 16 Spring Activities for Couples, Families, Kids
3. April Showers
There are few things more cheering than strolling in a warm spring rain, not to mention the added benefit we know those showers bring…
4. May Flowers
Even if you’re not a fan of walking in the rain, you surely appreciate the beauty those April showers bring: vividly colored blossoms that brighten spring days.
5. Easter Eggs
Easter is the most celebratory of spring occasions, and the brightly colored eggs that we associate with that day bring a special kind of joy.
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6. Spring Vegetables
The A’s have it each spring, as epicures avidly look forward to the delights of artichokes and asparagus.
7. Spring Cleaning
Many folks find pleasure in a thorough housecleaning, but even those of us who undertake such tasks grudgingly experience a great sense of satisfaction when our home is finally spic and span.
READ MORE: 10 Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips for Earth Day
8. Spring Baseball
From the optimism of spring training to the pageantry of Opening Day and the pleasures of a game of catch in the backyard, our national pastime is as inextricably associated with spring as with the summer months that follow.
9. Gardening
This most contemplative of hobbies rewards its practitioners with a sense of calm, an appreciation of new beginnings, and, eventually, beautiful blossoms and tasty and nutritious vegetables.
10. Bike Rides
Dedicated and stalwart cyclists might not let the winter winds and the snow they bring keep them from hitting the road, but for most of us, spring is when we again mount our bikes and go for a leisurely ride.
11. Open Windows
This is perhaps the simplest of spring pleasures, requiring only that one unlatch the windows, but there are few delights more pleasurable than fresh air wafting into a space where it’s long been in short supply.
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12. The Return of Songbirds
And opening wide those windows also allows in the cheering sounds of songbirds in the trees. Hearing birdsong can be a reminder that we’re not alone in the great outdoors—or in life. In fact, a study with King’s College London found that being in the presence of birdsong had a measurable positive impact on a person’s mood.
READ MORE: How Birdwatching Can Benefit Our Health
13. A Spiritual Spring Cleaning
This is the time of year when many people take on spring cleaning projects. But since we put so much time and effort into cleaning our worldly residence, shouldn’t we also do some spiritual spring cleaning? Many people use this bright new season to open their hearts, let go of past grievances, find self-healing, take up meditation, or draw closer to God through prayer.
READ MORE: 4 Steps to Spring Clean Your Spirit
14. A Sense of Hope
Perhaps best of all is the sense of hope that spring brings to us. The chilly winter days are gone and warmer, sunnier days are ahead—filled with so much potential.
“Hope is an active anticipation in the ability to reach desired goals,” says Dr. Steven Sandage, a theologian and psychologist. “It requires a willingness to put energy toward those goals.” One of the best things about spring is that anticipation for the happy days ahead.
