Mark Gerard's Therapeutic Massage

It’s lovely to see daffodils popping up in everyone’s gardens. Soon they’ll be joined by a splash of tulips and a full rainbow of other blooms. Springtime always gets me thinking about awakenings, about bringing to life what has laid dormant.

Let’s face it: many of us have been huddled away in our homes, sheltered from a winter that brought way too much snow and some bone-chilling cold. Like all those tulip bulbs, we’ve been hiding out until it felt warm enough to venture out into the world. But I also know that a lot of people hide out within themselves – not only during the winter, but all year long. Well, spring reminds us that we all can come out and play, that we all can show our true colors.

Maybe you have an artistic side that’s just dying to be set free. Or you don’t tell your friends and loved ones how much you care for them as much as you’d like to. Or maybe it’s simply time to let your voice or opinion be heard. I say, “Sing!”

And it’s not just so we can celebrate our selves that we should be expressing our beliefs and talents. It’s for our health. People who express themselves – through music, dance, writing, gardening, and even just socializing – enjoy better physical and emotional health. And people who follow dreams that they might have been keeping dormant have more self-confidence and esteem.

So take your cue from the daffodils: wake up and bloom!