There is a wonderful writer I follow on Instagram as well as read her blog. Her name is Emily P. Freeman and every 3 months or so she writes a blog post called What We Learned this _________ (fill in- Spring, Winter, Fall or Summer) and invites her readers to do the same. It’s a time where we to pause to reflect on the past season before we move ahead in to the future. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. And finally I get to!
(See my recommended books by Emily P. Freeman in the sidebar!) –>
What I Learned This Spring 2018
So here we go! Here’s What I Learned this Spring- March, April, May (in no particular order).

March 2018
1. The change of seasons has been such a wonderfully liturgical marker for me.
March began with this gloomy cold weather you see in the picture above and followed up 6 days later with snow. For me the seemingly gloomy and the quiet of the snow is a reminder that God is in these gloomy and cold moments in live and he is working. He’s doing something in me and there is beauty in that.
2. It takes me a REALLY long time to get into a writing “groove”.
I’ve never taken the time to write intentionally. I usually would wait for inspiration and then write as soon as I found a moment to. But since joining the writing community called Hope*Writers I’ve made writing a priority.
And I was a little surprised at how long it takes me to start writing. I’m learning to let that be.
3. I love traveling with my family.
Now please don’t read that wrong. I didn’t say it was easy to travel with my family. I said I love it. I love being with my husband and kids. As a matter of fact here’s a post that shares some of my experience traveling to Disney with my family.
I love when we are together. I want to be with them as often as I can. And I don’t take that lightly.
It’s not easy. In fact it’s usually really hard. Even the everyday is hard. But I can’t imagine my days without them. They bring joy and light to my life. So grateful for them.
4.Flowers in the City are my fav!
I love things as soft and beautiful as flowers set in the concrete jungle of New York City. The contrast is so beautiful to me.
5. I need to be a tourist in my own city more often.
I’ve lived in New York City my whole life and there are still places I’ve never seen. Recently my husband, kids and I went to the NYC Transit Museum. What a cool place! Wish I went there sooner. And while I’ve been to many of the staples like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, there are other places I haven’t been. I’m ready to plan for a touristy summer in NYC!
6. Hanging with Good People is Good for the Soul
Most people don’t know this, but I am a pretty high introvert. And so while I can “turn on my extrovert” when needed, I am most refreshed and receive life from quite times alone reading, resting and listening to music. It takes a lot of energy out of me to be an extrovert.
But from time to time you meet some really good people and get to hang out with them, and it’s not draining, it’s life giving.
I need to do this more.
What I’ve Learned this Spring
These things I’ve learned are not necessarily ground breaking or life changing. They don’t have to be. For me, they are simply what I’m noticing as I stop and slow down. I am then able to recognize and listen to what’s happening in my life before I rush along to the next thing.
Take some time now to think about your own spring season. What are some things that stood out to you? What made you smile, laugh, cry, angry? Let me know in the comments below some things that you remember from your Spring season.
I learned that instead of avoiding the rainy season I can embrace it as God’s provision.
I learned that having daily laughter is really important to me.
And I embraced the reality that days are truly numbered – I want each day I live to be marked by a smile, an encouraging word or a heartfelt apology.
These are so good! I love the part about not avoiding the rainy season but embracing it. So good. Thanks for sharing your learnings Jackie!
Responding to your post makes me think I could write a whole blog series on this one topic lol!
This Spring I learned that I am an extrovert, but I also have an introverted personality. I suppose I always knew this I just never had a real “description” for it. I’m a type 4w5 on the enneagram but an ENFP. Just by knowing myself I think they’re rather contradicting. I’ve learned that I need to overcome my feelings of inadequacy (educationally, physically, etc.) in order to allow myself to be around the people that fill my spirit with such joy!
I’ve also learned that I need to be more of a go-getter. I cut myself short a lot and need to overcome my “fear of failure”.
Love it! Reflecting during key points in life (in this case seasons change) is so helpful for us to take inventory of ourselves. It gives us permission and the space to listen to and watch as our inner world collides with our outer world. I believe this too allows us to become more ourselves.
Thanks for sharing. Love what your learning!