Instinct or Habit?

Small Village of Aabenraa

This morning I heard a Danish saying, “April Does What it Wants!”  It’s a lot more realistic than “April Showers Bring May Flowers”.   

Perfect way to describe April - All hell breaks loose!  

Is there any saying to address the changes to our bodies and minds in April?

Small Amounts of Sunlight are Worshipped!

I’m certain they both go through a whole gamut of adjustments.

a)  Longer daylight each week

b)  Fresh foods beginning to show up in the market

c)  The urge to sit in the sun

d)  Outdoors enticing us to come out

When daylight lengthens I get an uneasy feeling. This feeling slowly creeps in.  I don’t especially like the short daylight hours of winter, but when they start changing I feel like I have to accomplish more.  Like I have to get ready for something.  Maybe it’s instinct to prepare a nest, to gather food, to travel like the many animals do.  I think we run on instinct more than we want to believe.  We’re such a “Thinking” mammal.  Believing our minds are controlled by the seasons, (even a tiny bit) takes away some of our holy status as a human. 

Old Sundial on Church Wall (Built in 1700's)

I remember “Spring Cleaning” was an annual ritual when I was younger.  We scrubbed every inch of our small house on Truckey Street.  We even washed the walls, the porch and the shed.  Mom taught me how to clean things thoroughly.   

I still have that urge to clean the windows in my apartment and everything that can take a swipe with a rag or a vacuum. Opening the windows, letting the fresh air in and the stale air out seems natural.  There’s something about spring that makes me feel good when I work hard cleaning and see the results.  

Rolling Farmland By Baltic Sea

I’ve seen some beautiful farms, here in Denmark. They’re not waiting to prepare for spring planting, they’re in full gear.

Gesche's Cousin's Front Yard Overlooking Sea

Cousin's Home (300 years old) Overlooking Sea
(Thatched Roof from Viking Influences)

Mom always knew when the asparagus and rhubarb were ready to pick and she started talking about what seeds we would be planting in our family garden. No more skating, no more sledding, no more snowballs, snow forts or winter football in the neighborhood.  Snow was melting rapidly and changing up everything around us.  

Small Steps Leading to Upper Part of Town

When I see the birds return in the spring I think, “Man, isn’t it a little early to be coming back?”  The harsh winds blow, snow wrecks its havoc a few last times and I wonder why the birds don’t learn.  Then I remember they don’t have the weather channel to check temperatures and storms.  Even with easy access to temperatures and weather it’s impossible to be prepared in the spring for the weather.  

Swan Swimming in the Cold Sea Amongst the Seaweed

My sister-in-law, Susan and my niece, Jenna are heading south for a spring break.  The wish for warmth, sunshine and sandals gets them on the move.  The airports all over the world are packed with sun-worshipers, just like them, trying to get south for a vacation.

We're ALL tired of Winter Coats and Dull Skies

I hear the birds singing.  They don’t seem bothered by overcast skies and cool temperatures on this Friday before Easter.  They waste no daylight hours.  I won’t either!

Danish Painting in Small Church (in Aabenraa) of Jesus Being Beaten

Ship Hanging in 1700 Church