Growing with Ease: A lesson from Spring

Spring officially begins with the vernal equinox, and this year, it arrived on Thursday, March 20, in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the moment when daylight and darkness balance, signaling the earth’s tilt toward warmth and renewal. Each year, we welcome this shift with open arms, eager for change, new beginnings, and a fresh burst of life. There’s something about the crisp air and the slow unfurling of buds that recharges us. We look to the season with hope, expecting transformation to come swiftly and fully.

Yet, experience reminds us that spring often brings unpredictable weather. We long for steady sunshine and warmth, but the transition is rarely immediate. The same holds true for the changes we attempt in our own lives. Many of us approach "spring cleaning" as a weekend task, expecting quick results, only to realize it takes longer than planned.

If we look closely, nature teaches us that while seasons follow a cyclical pattern, transformation does not happen overnight. Growth is not linear. The trees that stood bare just yesterday do not rush to sprout leaves. Flowers do not bloom all at once. The warming earth does not hurry its process. Instead, there is a quiet unfolding, a patient stretching toward the sun, an unseen deepening of roots before the first green shoots emerge. If nature embraces its pace, why do we expect ourselves, or others, to be any different?

So often, we take up new hobbies or set fresh intentions, hoping for immediate success. We want to master a skill, form a habit, or change our ways instantly. But when the process proves difficult, when we stumble or falter, frustration sets in. This is a natural, human response to challenges. Yet in these moments, it helps to remember that growth is not a single leap but a series of small movements forward. And even when it feels like we’ve taken a step back, each experience contributes to our journey, often in ways we don’t immediately see.

At Equinimity, our offerings encourage people to cultivate new skills and explore new interests - not just for the knowledge gained but for the experience itself. We hope to foster not only learning but also a sense of ease, community, and gentleness. Because growth isn’t just about the outcome; it’s about allowing ourselves to experience curiosity and the joy of the journey.

When we embrace growth at our own pace, we also extend deeper understanding and compassion to others as they navigate their own paths. Too often, we expect people to be at a certain stage in their lives - whether in their careers, finances, or relationships. We hope they’ll change their minds or behavior as quickly as we wish them to, and begin to see the world in the way we do as soon as we give them our reasons. But while we all share the same earth, just as each plant grows in its own way and its own time, every person's journey is unique too. Some may still be in winter, gathering strength beneath the surface. Others may just be beginning to bloom.

When we recognize that growth is a journey, we meet each other where we are, rather than where we expect one another to be. In doing so, we create space for connection and compassion, even amidst our differences.

Perhaps this spring, we can soften our approach. Instead of expecting instant change - from ourselves or others - we can offer the same patience we give to slow-blossoming trees and the gradually greening hills. Sometimes, in allowing space for growth, we find that it happens all on its own.

Spring teaches us that beauty is not just in the bloom but in the waiting, the unfolding, and the quiet perseverance of life finding its way. And perhaps, in embracing this lesson, we too can move through our own seasons with greater gentleness and ease.