I love the changing seasons we experience in Canada. There are things I look forward to in each of them. In summer, it is the warm air, the relaxed feeling of long days of sunshine and endless trails to bike. Fall brings me the changing colours of the leaves and whichever warm sweaters catch my fancy. Although I could do without the bitter cold days of winter, I do marvel at the glistening snow and the contrast of the snow-capped mountains against the Alberta blue sky.
But it is in the wonderment of spring I find myself noticing new life all around.
This week there has been much new life to celebrate. Although our north facing front lawn is still piled high with snow, this is not the case for most properties and spaces in the city. Robins have been spotted regularly this week, and Jim, always anxious at this time of year that his next boxes are cleaned out and ready, has his eye out for the arrival of the first mountain bluebirds. Some swallows have been seen, looking for a new place to raise a family. They flit house to house trying to make a decision. We’ve joked it must be a buyer’s market for them; they are in no hurry to put down a deposit!
A drive to the country further added proof of springs arrival and of new life. Frisky calves stand in the fields, frozen rivers are thawing and streams beginning to flow. My cousin’s daughter, Jessica is regularly posting pictures of her baby lambs. In our sunny backyard tiny green shoots are poking through the soil in the gardens.
But it is in the wonderment of spring I find myself noticing new life all around.
This week there has been much new life to celebrate. Although our north facing front lawn is still piled high with snow, this is not the case for most properties and spaces in the city. Robins have been spotted regularly this week, and Jim, always anxious at this time of year that his next boxes are cleaned out and ready, has his eye out for the arrival of the first mountain bluebirds. Some swallows have been seen, looking for a new place to raise a family. They flit house to house trying to make a decision. We’ve joked it must be a buyer’s market for them; they are in no hurry to put down a deposit!
A drive to the country further added proof of springs arrival and of new life. Frisky calves stand in the fields, frozen rivers are thawing and streams beginning to flow. My cousin’s daughter, Jessica is regularly posting pictures of her baby lambs. In our sunny backyard tiny green shoots are poking through the soil in the gardens.
Even the energy in the air feels like it has new life in it. Little ones have traded clunky snow boots for slip on runners; it’s much easier to maneuver a bike or scooter when wearing these.
In our home, while we’ve been observing our ritual of anticipating and noticing new life this season, we’ve been doing it closer to home. We’ve had our minds on one particular new life. At the writing of this blog, our daughter and son-in-law, Kaitlyn and Matt, Ben’s parents, are expecting their second child. Understanding that new life reveals itself following its own calendar, we are practicing patience as one overdue day rolls into the next. What I know for sure about new life is it’s always worth the wait.
As I’ve lain awake many hours of the night waiting for my cue to drive over to watch Ben, so his mom and dad can head to the hospital, I’ve pondered the significance and impact of new life. Certainly, a baby, a brand-new life, will soon join our family. But even bigger, and more impactful will be all the new life created by his or her arrival. Yes, there will certainly be a beautiful baby. There will also be much more new life to marvel at.
Kaitlyn and Matt will begin a whole new life, a life with one more person to consider, with one more child to love and raise, with new financial considerations, new likes and dislikes, new habits, and new joys.
Greg and Cara too will start a new life. When little Ben was born, they were living in a different part of the country. Their relationship with this new baby will form part of their new life.
So too will Ben’s life be new. He’ll now bear the title of big brother; a completely new concept for him.
And Jim and I too, we will have new life. We’ll expand the dining room table to include one more. I have no doubt my heart will also expand; no doubt to just the right size to house the love I’ll have for this baby.
As I’ve pondered all the new life that will spring from this one little new life, I noticed we each have opportunities to regularly create new life. We can do it with simple things such as changing a habit, or an attitude, or a tone. We can welcome a new joy to our life; singing or birdwatching or hiking. We can open our lives to not-yet friends and long-loved friends. These all bring new life. We can close doors, or at least tuck away in closets, things that don’t encourage new life.
At a time in history when we can’t create new life through travel, gathering for sports and cultural events and through gatherings with loved ones, it will serve us well to remember we have it within us to continue to grow, to encourage new life, and to celebrate it. Even in its tiniest form.
May you find and create new life this week.
P.S. It is now Saturday, and we are joyfully celebrating the safe arrival of beautiful little one-day-old Andy. New life.
My inquiry for you this week is, ‘What new life needs celebrating?’
Elizabeth is a certified professional Leadership Coach, and the owner of Critchley Coaching. She is the founder and president of the Canadian charity, RDL Building Hope Society. She works with corporations, non-profits and the public sector, providing leadership coaching. She creates and facilitates custom workshops for all sizes of groups. She has particular expertise in facilitating Strategic Plans for organizations. Contact Elizabeth to learn how to foster and celebrate new life.
In our home, while we’ve been observing our ritual of anticipating and noticing new life this season, we’ve been doing it closer to home. We’ve had our minds on one particular new life. At the writing of this blog, our daughter and son-in-law, Kaitlyn and Matt, Ben’s parents, are expecting their second child. Understanding that new life reveals itself following its own calendar, we are practicing patience as one overdue day rolls into the next. What I know for sure about new life is it’s always worth the wait.
As I’ve lain awake many hours of the night waiting for my cue to drive over to watch Ben, so his mom and dad can head to the hospital, I’ve pondered the significance and impact of new life. Certainly, a baby, a brand-new life, will soon join our family. But even bigger, and more impactful will be all the new life created by his or her arrival. Yes, there will certainly be a beautiful baby. There will also be much more new life to marvel at.
Kaitlyn and Matt will begin a whole new life, a life with one more person to consider, with one more child to love and raise, with new financial considerations, new likes and dislikes, new habits, and new joys.
Greg and Cara too will start a new life. When little Ben was born, they were living in a different part of the country. Their relationship with this new baby will form part of their new life.
So too will Ben’s life be new. He’ll now bear the title of big brother; a completely new concept for him.
And Jim and I too, we will have new life. We’ll expand the dining room table to include one more. I have no doubt my heart will also expand; no doubt to just the right size to house the love I’ll have for this baby.
As I’ve pondered all the new life that will spring from this one little new life, I noticed we each have opportunities to regularly create new life. We can do it with simple things such as changing a habit, or an attitude, or a tone. We can welcome a new joy to our life; singing or birdwatching or hiking. We can open our lives to not-yet friends and long-loved friends. These all bring new life. We can close doors, or at least tuck away in closets, things that don’t encourage new life.
At a time in history when we can’t create new life through travel, gathering for sports and cultural events and through gatherings with loved ones, it will serve us well to remember we have it within us to continue to grow, to encourage new life, and to celebrate it. Even in its tiniest form.
May you find and create new life this week.
P.S. It is now Saturday, and we are joyfully celebrating the safe arrival of beautiful little one-day-old Andy. New life.
My inquiry for you this week is, ‘What new life needs celebrating?’
Elizabeth is a certified professional Leadership Coach, and the owner of Critchley Coaching. She is the founder and president of the Canadian charity, RDL Building Hope Society. She works with corporations, non-profits and the public sector, providing leadership coaching. She creates and facilitates custom workshops for all sizes of groups. She has particular expertise in facilitating Strategic Plans for organizations. Contact Elizabeth to learn how to foster and celebrate new life.
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