Friday Five: Spring and Autumn
Sep. 21st, 2018 12:58 pmThese questions looked very simple, but they unlocked a surprising amount of introspection. Thank you for an interesting friday tradition!
1. Do you have the urge to do a Fall/Spring cleaning as soon as the weather turns?
No, because I sucked at housekeeping for a long time, and lived places I was likely to only stay a few years. And I've worked hard at making regular housekeeping habits, rather than a dread of it always being impossible, but I haven't acquired enough faith that what I do will actually work and make the house clean and nice, so everything is more usually a chore I need to force myself to do, than something I'm eager to get on with.
Also, the first house I've lived in with somewhat good habits I'm sharing with Liv, so if there is a spring clean, it's logistically more convenient directly before passover specifically rather than when it get to spring. That's been difficult for many years as our lives have been busy, but hopefully it *will* become a norm.
What tells you that the season (a certain smell, a certain taste, that sort of thing) has changed?
I often spend a long time not wanting to admit it, because as touched on above, I always feel like I'm playing catch up and want to squeeze as much into the current season as I can, rather than feeling eager for the next season.
But things I do notice. The smell of spring, the first... something in the air. The first flowers, the first stirring of green things, the sense of life returning to the world. Mum always notices the swifts and swallows but I'm always too unobservant.
The first really warm day of summer -- although that sometimes happens in march and sometimes not till august :)
When the clocks change and/or when it gets light when I leave work (or leave the gym, or other chronological milestone).
Blackberries, leaves falling, and other autumn signs. The first day of "...did it get cold".
For winter, the clocks changing, having to commute in the dark, the first time we need to put the heating on. I wish there were more positive ones (there are for many friends, but they're not as obvious a "first sign" to me)
3.What do you look forward to the most with the change of seasons?
As said above, I always find it hard to look forward, I'm always worried I'm not doing enough.
Most of the things I'm eager for are summer -- of feeling the sun's warmth flow through me and feeling of contentment, of sunbathing, of being able to swim outside or laze by the river. Treading in autumn leaves. Snow, often inconvenient, but so beautiful I wouldn't be happy to give it up entirely. First spring flowers.
4. What is something that you probably should accomplish but won’t this season?
In brighter news, not much. I've got a lot better at getting things done, and being realistic about what I won't do.
What should I accomplish? Figure out abroad-being plans (unless a miracle cancels Brexit entirely). Continue working on hobbies. Deal with xmas logistics, finding presents, etc.
What might be good but is unlikely to happen? Become a better housekeeper. Become less on edge all the time. Dress better. Being generally more relaxed, fun and open as a person is a very slow ongoing quest, hopefully there's still progress, but probably not completion.
5. What is the most enjoyable part of the oncoming season for you?
I've touched on this above, but autumn leaves, blackberries, halloween, mum's birthday. Not this year but sometimes joining a gym and being freed from worrying about the weather before jogging. Several of my life milestones happen to have been in autumn so I sometimes reflect on how far I've come since them.
1. Do you have the urge to do a Fall/Spring cleaning as soon as the weather turns?
No, because I sucked at housekeeping for a long time, and lived places I was likely to only stay a few years. And I've worked hard at making regular housekeeping habits, rather than a dread of it always being impossible, but I haven't acquired enough faith that what I do will actually work and make the house clean and nice, so everything is more usually a chore I need to force myself to do, than something I'm eager to get on with.
Also, the first house I've lived in with somewhat good habits I'm sharing with Liv, so if there is a spring clean, it's logistically more convenient directly before passover specifically rather than when it get to spring. That's been difficult for many years as our lives have been busy, but hopefully it *will* become a norm.
What tells you that the season (a certain smell, a certain taste, that sort of thing) has changed?
I often spend a long time not wanting to admit it, because as touched on above, I always feel like I'm playing catch up and want to squeeze as much into the current season as I can, rather than feeling eager for the next season.
But things I do notice. The smell of spring, the first... something in the air. The first flowers, the first stirring of green things, the sense of life returning to the world. Mum always notices the swifts and swallows but I'm always too unobservant.
The first really warm day of summer -- although that sometimes happens in march and sometimes not till august :)
When the clocks change and/or when it gets light when I leave work (or leave the gym, or other chronological milestone).
Blackberries, leaves falling, and other autumn signs. The first day of "...did it get cold".
For winter, the clocks changing, having to commute in the dark, the first time we need to put the heating on. I wish there were more positive ones (there are for many friends, but they're not as obvious a "first sign" to me)
3.What do you look forward to the most with the change of seasons?
As said above, I always find it hard to look forward, I'm always worried I'm not doing enough.
Most of the things I'm eager for are summer -- of feeling the sun's warmth flow through me and feeling of contentment, of sunbathing, of being able to swim outside or laze by the river. Treading in autumn leaves. Snow, often inconvenient, but so beautiful I wouldn't be happy to give it up entirely. First spring flowers.
4. What is something that you probably should accomplish but won’t this season?
In brighter news, not much. I've got a lot better at getting things done, and being realistic about what I won't do.
What should I accomplish? Figure out abroad-being plans (unless a miracle cancels Brexit entirely). Continue working on hobbies. Deal with xmas logistics, finding presents, etc.
What might be good but is unlikely to happen? Become a better housekeeper. Become less on edge all the time. Dress better. Being generally more relaxed, fun and open as a person is a very slow ongoing quest, hopefully there's still progress, but probably not completion.
5. What is the most enjoyable part of the oncoming season for you?
I've touched on this above, but autumn leaves, blackberries, halloween, mum's birthday. Not this year but sometimes joining a gym and being freed from worrying about the weather before jogging. Several of my life milestones happen to have been in autumn so I sometimes reflect on how far I've come since them.