We often look at March as a fickle month. It’s never consistent with its arrival as a lion or a lamb. Oftentimes, it fails to adhere to any part of that wives’ tale. However, March is a month of promises, possibilities, and progress.
Progress
Think about it. Forsythia appears in full form by March. Daffodils and their relatives pop forth.
Both yellow blossoms provide sunshine on stormy days.
Our clocks spring forward, robbing us of a Sunday morning hour. But that evening, the day delivers an hour of extended light.
With the impression of extra daylight, we begin to progress toward the end of winter. A mere nine days after time changes, winter officially departs and Spring arrives. The season brings a progression of blossoms, buds, and blooms. Life in our part of the world begins to emerge again.
Promises
Important holidays for both Christians and Muslims also occur in March. The concurrence doesn’t happen frequently. However, this year the promises in those faiths arrive with the promises of Spring.
Around the 10th of the month, Muslims begin to observe Ramadan. From dawn until sunset, practicing Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations, as well as from gossiping, lying, and fighting. A student at Brandeis once commented, “Ramadan allows us to connect with our inner selves as a collective, and reflect upon the progress we have made towards becoming better people and the work that still needs to be done moving forward.”
Christians observe Easter on two different days. Good Friday is a day of mourning for the day Christ was crucified on a cross. Two days later, Easter Sunday is celebrated as the day Christ emerged from the tomb bringing the promise of a new life. Since eggs are symbolic of new life, one of the traditional Christian practices is hunting for colored eggs. They can be both real or plastic or for those with a sweet tooth, chocolate eggs wrapped in colored foil.
Followers of both religions focus on the promises of renewal while also enjoying family feasts and celebrations.
Possibilities
Resolutions made in January to begin practicing healthy habits are often reviewed with the emergence of Spring. We evaluate our progress and restart or renew our resolve to do better.
We have more time and interest in outdoor recreation. Fresh foods are beginning to appear in the market. New information is presented from a variety of sources.
We promise ourselves we will make more progress. We will look for more possibilities for success. We will renew our enthusiasm. Our budding self-intentions will reach full bloom. We will not be as fickle as the month of March!
