“It’s Spring Fever, that’s what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want— oh, you don’t know what it is you want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmons), American Author
I don’t know about you, but springtime is a very happy time for me. Although the first day of Spring (the Vernal Equinox) fell on March 22nd this year, the first day of Spring for me is on Easter Sunday.
The sparrows are making their new nests in the bird houses; and we will soon watch the migrating ducks and other fowl come to the Valley areas. My wife’s gardens of lilies are in full bloom…the reds, whites, and the tiger lilies are so plentiful and beautiful. The crepe myrtle trees, bougainvillea bushes, and redbuds are leafing out, and the citrus trees are bearing their new growth leaves and fruits.
Even the rough mesquite trees are so beautiful this time of year, as are our other native trees. Yes, it is most certainly a time of renewal for the botanical and biological world. But what is of more importance is the way that the Easter Season and our first week of spring compliment our mental health.
Having spent time in the very harsh winter reality of two unforgettable tours in the Air Force, three years in North Central Illinois and a 13 month tour in the “land of the morning calm…” South Korea (when we endured the worst winter seasons on record); I can most certainly empathize with our winter visitors whom come to South Texas during the winter season to escape from that weather. Many native South Texas residents have never known such winters, and perhaps never will.
The darkness, dreariness, and downright cold of those winters pose a major impact on mental health, and are especially difficult for those who suffer with depression and other diagnosis of mental illness. I believe us who have endured such dramatic winter seasons can most certainly more appreciate springtime.
Yet, Spring time has a much deeper meaning to us, as it plays such a very important role in our continuing growth and development as human beings along our life’s journey.
Years back I developed my theory of the Wholistic Self (that is “Wholistic,” beginning with a “W,” and not to be confused with “Holistic,” beginning with an “H”), and have presented it to you in my past articles. As human beings we have in actuality four selves: The physical self, the social self, the psychological self, and the spiritual self; all coming together to form our whole self.
Our physical self is our body. We work to nourish it, to keep it from injury, and maintain it through our activities of daily living.
Our social self is fed by our interaction with others. Our psychological self is maintained through the development and maintenance of self worth and self esteem, and other psychological needs such as our need for belonging.
Now, all of these selves that make up our whole self are quite tangible, save the spiritual self. The spiritual self is concerned with religious and spiritual values; such as attitude and beliefs, and values such as the virtuous value of “being good and doing good”; and it is these issues that we address in springtime, the time for renewal.
For millions of Christians throughout the world, the Easter Season is a time of elation and joy. Their spiritual selves are nourished by the beliefs in the celebration of life, which is recognized through their religious tenets and faith. It is my contention that belief in a power greater than ourselves is so essential in the maintenance of our mental health, as well as all the other 3 selves; for without it we cannot maintain the homeostasis, the balance, of our total wholistic self.
The Easter season, springtime, is most certainly a time of reflection and renewal…a time when we should be thankful…that we have gratitude for what we have, and most importantly the gratitude of life and fulfillment along our journey of life. May you all enjoy a most wonderful Easter today, and a wonderful springtime, and always remember to Stay Healthy My Friends!