“The goal of healing trauma is not to be better at enduring pain but to open ourselves up to a greater capacity for love, joy, and connection.”
Resmaa Menakem
The Winter That Wasn’t
Daylight Savings Time has arrived once again, and today we all woke up with a collective consensus: this is bullshit. Our disdain for this outdated, unwelcome tradition is rivaled only by our desperate longing for the arrival of its namesake—Spring.
Now, I don’t know how things are looking in your neck of the woods, but here in Alaska, it sure feels like spring has sprung. This is both highly unusual and entirely predictable. I know that doesn’t make sense…I’ll explain.
In Alaska, we have a phenomenon called Fool’s Spring—a deceptive stretch of warmth and sunshine in late February or early March that tricks us into believing winter is finally over. But we know better. In a week or two, winter will return, full force. Still, it’s tempting to surrender to the seduction of easier days ahead
This year has been different. Winter never fully arrived—sparse snowfall, torrential January downpours, and unseasonably warm temperatures have made it feel like spring all along
Lately, the days just keep getting nicer. The snow is melting rapidly, revealing big patches of grass and gravel, but I’m not buying it. After 43 winters in Alaska, her trickery is ingrained in my psyche. A rogue snowstorm could blow in at any moment, shattering our springtime dreams. It’s happened before—43 times, to be exact.
Embracing What Comes
As I wrestle with whether to surrender to the siren call of spring, the whole thing starts to seem absurd. Some part of me seems to believe that tempering my joy will protect me from disappointment later. But in reality, all I’m doing is cheating myself out of the happiness available to me right now.
Fool’s Spring, “real” Spring, or something in between—the experience is the same. It doesn’t matter whether it’s March, May, or August. If I step outside in a t-shirt and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, my spirit is revived.
Why would I discount that just because it didn’t arrive on schedule—or because it won’t last?
The more I think about it, the more I realize I do this with life too. I stumble upon little moments of unexpected joy—a few fleeting seconds of genuine happiness—only to hear a voice in my head whisper, Don’t get too comfortable here. And just like that, the moment is gone.
I recognize this as a defense mechanism—a way of bracing for impact. I keep my guard up, convinced that if I don’t lean too deeply into happiness, I won’t feel the ache of losing it.
Unfortunately, the only thing I accomplish by trying to outrun tomorrow’s sorrow, Is to dull today’s joy.
Yes, joy is temporary. But so is sorrow. That’s the nature of life—impermanence. Emotions rise like tides, wash over us, and retreat. Moments slip into memories. People drift in and out of our lives. Everything comes, everything goes.
How sad it would be to miss any of it—love, loss, heartbreak, and pure, unfiltered joy. We cannot numb one part of the human experience without dimming the rest. If we want to feel deep, soul-filling contentment—the kind that ushers in peace, love, and bliss—we must also surrender to grief, uncertainty, and sadness when they arrive.
We cannot have one without the other. And we can only experience them as deeply as we allow ourselves to feel their opposite.
So why not let it all in? Let it move through you. Because a life fully felt is a life fully lived.
Yoga for Negative Energy Release | Black Yogi Nico Marie
30 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly
This might seem counterintuitive to today’s theme of allowing all experiences in, but it actually fits perfectly. I may be uncomfortable with joy, but I settle into sadness too easily. Sometimes, I need a little help to move through it.
This class had been sitting in my Yoga To Try playlist for ages—I’m not sure why it took me so long to get to it, but I’m glad I finally did. I was amazed at how effectively it shifted my mindset.
It’s a complete practice, with Savasana and a guided meditation included. I loved it!
Yoga For Joy | Boost Your Energy & Vibrations | The Yogi Witch
19 Minutes | All Levels
Recently, I started adding a second asana practice to my daily routine, and it’s been a game-changer for my mood. I’ve been in a bit of a rut and returning to my mat midday unfailingly lifts my spirits.
I love the chance to explore different styles and bring some novelty into my practice. My early morning asana is short and gentle, so it’s refreshing to play with longer, more energetic classes.
This one is a new favorite—just the right amount of challenge to leave me feeling great. Hope you enjoy it too!
Expanding Capacity for Joy in Mind & Body: Gentle Experience | Hilary Jacobs Hendel
14 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly
This was a powerful experience. I was surprised by how much I learned from such a short meditation. I had never done an exercise like this before, and it completely blew my mind.
As I sat with joy, unexpected emotions surfaced. I hadn’t consciously realized this pattern before, but now that I’ve had the chance to observe it, I can clearly see how it plays out in my daily life.
Highly, highly highly encourage all of you to give this one a try!! If you do, I would love to hear what came up for you. I won’t share mine just yet because I want you all to have your own experience. But I’ll respond to your comments with more details!
Not a lot to add this week. It’s already a long issue.
I will leave you with these parting words: If the sun shines, go out and enjoy it like it will never disappear!! Soak that shit up.
Have a sunny, springtimey, week!
See you next Sunday.
Well...I guess the joke is on me. I woke up to fresh snow on the ground today!