On campus, February (rather than April) is the cruelest month. It’s grey outside. It’s cold. The novelty of a new semester has already worn off. Spring break is still weeks away.
It’s a good time to remind myself that the weather, the light and the rhythms of the academic calendar do affect me. Am I a little grouchier? A little more sensitive? Does the
list of tasks seem endless (and pointless)? It’s OK to blame February. One day not too far away, the sun will shine, the grass will grow, the flowers will bloom, and it will feel very different, even in a year with a relatively mild winter.
February is also a good time to watch out for each other. Is anyone among your friends already having a tough time that could be made worse by the season? Is there anyone you could cheer up with a message or a meal together or a little gift? My counselor always used to say that one way to lift your own spirits is to lift the spirits of others. Sometimes we think that spirituality is about always being happy, grounded and positive. And so it can be. But real spirituality is finding the divine even in the midst of grey days. We are loved even when we’re not feeling lovable.