Do Good: Spring, A Time for Self-Renewal
As the calendar turns, a new beginning seems possible.
The adage goes “In like a lion, out like a lamb”. The onset of March marks the first indication that spring will soon be on its way. Despite snowstorms and blizzards, we triumphantly prevailed against the slushy New York City streets, accomplished a slew of goals while hibernating — I don’t mean binge watching House of Cards — and managed to remain patient and hopeful while awaiting a warmer climate.
Beginnings, whether the start of a burgeoning relationship or changing of seasons, provide an opportunity for growth — a chance to challenge our inherent vices and restructure ourselves for the better. Not an easy feat, but beginnings always allow us the possibility to start anew.
RENEWAL
With spring rearing its lovely, blossoming head, there is much to look forward to: taking the scenic route rather than an over-packed subway, fresh fruit and baguettes at the local farmer’s market, longer days, exquisite skies, and an increase in the number of smiling faces. Spring equates to renewal, and what better way to experience a new sense of self than to strive for living a life with purpose and compassion? We can establish realistic expectations by not setting out to save the world, but by helping to change the status quo in our very own backyards.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Our local communities are often the first to be forgotten. The struggle for food pantries to remain stocked, the over-crowed public housing unit next door, nearby school children facing classroom difficulty, the empty stomachs we pass by every day. These are the issues our communities are forced to address, yet more often than not, remain unaddressed. There is always good to be done, a person in need, a hungry child — New York City, in particular, always provides an opportunity to get involved and inspire change.
SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM
To grow we must be challenged. We can’t wait for the opportunity to present itself, but we must seek it out. We are most apt to discover ourselves, to exist outside of ourselves, and be in sync with the greater good, during moments of compassion and selflessness. Urban environments cater to volunteerism and grant the constant opportunity to do for others. Let spring be a reminder. “Be not simply good,” writes Henry David Thoreau, “be good for something.”
