Enjoying the Springtime Like Your Inner-Child Would
Written by Lila Mabanta
Springtime. Waking up to the birds chirping through your open windows. Hanging out with your neighborhood friends in your front yard. Going inside for a ham and cheese sandwich while feeling the sun hit your face. Seeing all the blooming flowers, and blowing on dandelions to ensure all your wishes come true. Riding your bike down the street. Rolling down a grassy hill.
Sounds like childhood springtime, right? And is that still the average spring day now? Probably not.
As we grow up, our days are most likely filled with school or work, with tasks we are responsible for completing every day. Days inside–almost feeling wasted in the office or classroom–while the weather is finally hitting 70 degrees and sunny. And with that, it’s easy to lose track of enjoying the present. It’s easy to feel like spring passed by even quicker than it usually does.
Now, I’m not encouraging you to skip class or take off from work. However, I am encouraging you to find ways to fit more outside time in.
Take full advantage of your weekends if you can. I’m prone to spending a whole day fully inside the walls of my small New York City apartment. Not that I’m hating on that–those days are important for rest, cleaning, household chores, and currently, homework. However, if the weather is nice, it’s worth it to take some time designated for the outside world. I’m very lucky—I live very close to Central Park. I try to make it my goal over the weekend to go on a walk, in the park or through the nearby streets, listening to my favorite podcast, or plopping a seat and reading my current book.
When it’s the weekdays, if I have extra time, I try to spend it outside. For example, my morning commute to my internship passes through Union Square. Sometimes, if I have the time, I’ll sit in the park for ten minutes or so, having a little sun time. Just that quick moment brightens my morning mood, instead of my normal go-go-go mentality.
Now, let’s say you’re already outside. Try to spend time doing something other than the obvious of being on your phone, or even reading. If you’re walking, do a sound walk, where you quiet yourself and open your ears to the world around you. Take in the wind sounds, bird chirps, grass crunches, and people talking. If you’re in a park, or greenery, have a picnic! Bring a blanket, some food, and friends–have those classic playdates! Be silly. Pick some grass and peel it (always something I strangely enjoyed), or better yet, wish on dandelions. Run around, and make silly videos. Look up at the sky and talk about what you see in the clouds. Go around skipping and galloping (I’ve always preferred galloping). Paint the landscape or flowers. Do things, even if you’re not good at them, and even if they don’t mean anything, as long as it’s fun.
If you’re hanging out with a friend inside and just chilling, take a walk. In my suburban hometown, I love going on walks throughout my neighborhood with my friends–it reminds me of so many memories I had there during my childhood and teenage years. If you have a dog, walk it!
Go on activities. If you’re in New York, take advantage of Central Park reopening their boating (yay yay yay!). Go to the piers, and street fairs. If there’s an open playground, go on the swings (of course, if you’re not amongst all the little kids). Take the ferry, rather than the subway, if the time allows it. “Travel” to the other boroughs, or parts of your city. Embrace the beauty of the place you live in, even if you’re so used to it that you’ve forgotten.
When the daytime is finishing up, relax and watch some of your favorite bingeable childhood shows. I’m always happy (in a bittersweet way) when rewatching Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, or Wizards of Waverly Place. I believe it’s important to still enjoy and bask in things you enjoyed as a child, because as much as we grow and change, that little person we were is never truly gone.
So, make that effort to spend time outside this spring. Enjoy the warmth before it is sweltering hot. Entertain yourself with the little things, and try to make time go slow. That’s ultimately what makes us happy, so go fulfill that!
Be well,
Lila
