There's something almost magical about these warm days of spring, isn't there?
The earth softening beneath our feet, those tender tree buds swollen with possibility, and the return of birdsong filling the morning air. After winter's long journey, it feels like I'm standing at the threshold of Nature's grandest transformation.
Do you feel it too?
For women in the second half of life, these seasonal rhythms speak a different language than they once did. We've weathered enough winters to understand cycles of dormancy and growth in ways our younger selves simply couldn't grasp.I believe this gives us a unique capacity to harness spring's spiritual energy for our own awakening.
Nature's Wisdom Is Our Wisdom
Recently, in one of my walks in the woods (my favorite moving meditation), I spotted unfurling fern fronds pushing through last autumn's decomposing leaves.
What struck me wasn't just their green beauty but their perfect timing—neither rushing their emergence nor delaying it. I somehow understood that they simply emerged when conditions were right.
Nature never questions her timing, and neither should we. The seasonal shift from winter to spring whispers an essential truth: transformation unfolds in its own sacred time, not according to our schedules or expectations.
As Lao Tzu observed centuries ago: "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." I've been carrying these words with me lately, repeating them when my impatience flares.
What Waits Within Us
Spring invites a powerful question: What lies dormant within us, waiting for the right conditions to emerge? What wisdom, creativity, or joy have we tucked away, perhaps believing its season had passed?
This isn't about forcing growth or rushing our becoming. God knows I've tried that approach enough times to recognize its futility. Instead, it's about creating conditions for natural emergence—clearing away what no longer serves us and nourishing what seeks expression.
Spring's spiritual gift is permission to begin again without apology. The world may shout that as women in the second half of life, our blooming days are behind us. But Nature tells a different story—one of continuous renewal, where every ending creates space for something new.
Practices to Awaken Your Springtime
Here are some gentle practices I've found helpful for aligning with spring's spiritual energy:
Morning Attunement: Begin your day by opening a window or stepping outside to witness the dawn. Notice one new thing that's emerging in your natural surroundings. Let this brief communion set your day's tone.
I've been doing this for years now—waiting by an open window for the solitary bird call that announces daybreak before the full morning chorus unfolds. There's something about that first lone singer that never fails to move me.
Sacred Release: Create a small ritual to release what no longer serves you.
I'll never forget a women's retreat years ago where we wrote our letting-go words on smooth stones and hurled them far into the ocean. The surprising force with which my arm flung that rock startled me. My body knew exactly how ready I was to release that particular burden, and I was amazed by how freeing it was.
Seed Your Intentions: Just as a garden needs planning, so does personal growth. What would you like to cultivate in this season of your life? Plant these intentions literally by speaking them to seeds you place in soil, or metaphorically through journaling or creating a vision board.
I've been journaling like mad this spring—filling pages with possibilities rather than problems. It feels like breaking a long fast.
Embrace Green Time: Research confirms what we intuitively know—being among trees and plants measurably reduces stress hormones and increases wellbeing. Commit to regular green time—gardening in your yard or walking in nature without your devices.
Notice Emergence: Keep a small notebook by your bedside. Each evening, note one thing that emerged during your day—a new insight, unexpected connection, or moment of beauty. Over time, you'll see patterns of growth.
One thing that's emerged for me recently is the awareness that I need even more time for spiritual practices than I've been giving myself. The busier my life gets, the more I need that quiet communion.
Courage to Bloom Again
Spring reminds us that the capacity for renewal never leaves us. No matter what dormant season we've passed through—grief, transition, uncertainty, or simply winter's natural introspection—we carry within us the innate ability to begin again.
There's a particular courage in choosing to bloom in the second half of life. It's not the impulsive courage of youth but something more substantial—the quiet bravery of a woman who knows herself, has weathered storms, and chooses to remain open to possibility anyway.
As you move through these lengthening spring days, I invite you to honor your own unfolding. Trust your timing. Listen to what's stirring within. Remember that in nature's wisdom, every season of letting go is followed by a season of becoming.
Your springtime is now. What will you allow to blossom?
Hand-Picked Just for You
ADVICE AND INSPIRATION FOR FEELING wildly ALIVE
Unapologetically Selective
Read my piece at PROVOKED by susan, a bold new digital magazine, delivering sharp and thought-provoking content for women over 50.
More than just a media platform, PROVOKED is a catalyst for change—challenging outdated stereotypes and shifting the conversation from lifespan to healthspan, while celebrating the financial, personal, and professional autonomy that women over 50 increasingly wield.
Stop Being So Damn Available | PROVOKED by susan
What Her Body Tells Us About Aging
Researchers are studying runner Jeannie Rice, who has “outstanding” fitness, to learn how we can stay healthy as we age, regardless of natural ability and the reduced physical activity often seen in older people. It's never too late to start exercising.
At 77, She's as Fit as a 25-Year-Old | Washington Post (Gift Article)
Valuable Lessons for Tackling Resistance
Unless you are a monastic, your life is probably characterized by a lot of resistance, especially to change. Even the most adventurous people are susceptible to this because change almost always means an uncertain or challenging future.
To figure out what sources of resistance are holding you back, find release from them and live better, read on.
To Be Happier, Stop Resisting Change | The Atlantic (Gift Article)
Building Resilience at Any Age
"No one reaches retirement age without resilience ─ the ability to overcome challenges while maintaining a positive outlook," writes retired psychologist Carol Morgan Milberger.
And yet, she finds facing challenges with a positive outlook more difficult these days. In this helpful piece, she shares seven resilience-building tips we can all use.
Seven Steps to Staying Resilient | Next Avenue
Little Bits of Light
Words to open your heart and SOOTHE YOUR SOUL
Photos by: Linda Wattier
Thank You for Sharing
How She Thrives!
Enjoy this issue? Please forward it to friends or share it on your favorite social media platform.
