March Forth
Today is March 4th.
Or as I like to think of it… March Forth.
It’s such a motivating phrase. It sounds like movement. Progress. Energy. A rallying cry to shake off winter and get going.
But that’s not how I’m feeling this week. In Massachusetts, we have so much snow on the ground. I’m still craving things warm and cozy— not springtime, not yet. All I want to do at the end of the day is sit on the couch, take out my crocheting, and binge Season Two of Landman.
Let’s face it: according to the calendar, we are still in winter. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is associated with the Water element — the kidneys — our deepest reserves of energy and vitality. It’s the season of storage. Reflection. Protection. Warmth. Hibernation. We’ve got a few more weeks of this, and I’m planning on savoring all of them.
I don’t think of it as being lazy. I think of it as being strategic.
Seeds are not failing during winter. They are rooting. And maybe that’s the reframe we need this time of year.
Because culturally, March can feel like a starting gun: The first quarter is moving fast. The days are getting longer as our clocks “spring ahead” this weekend. We feel pressure to produce, to plan, to get moving again.
But nature says, not yet. Not fully.
There is wisdom in these last few weeks of cold mornings and quiet trees. There is value in finishing winter well before we all go marching forth into Spring.
So what if “marching forth” doesn’t mean speeding up? What if it means moving forward gently?
Maybe March is for:
Cleaning out the junk drawer, not the entire basement.
Stepping outside for ten quiet minutes before the sun goes down.
Protecting your sleep like it matters — because it does.
Reviewing your goals without judging them.
Letting an idea sit and root, instead of forcing it to bloom.
Maybe March is a bridge month, a month to notice what’s been quietly percolating beneath the surface. A month to warm up slowly instead of flipping a switch.
Flowers are not yet blooming in early March— but we don’t accuse them of being lazy, right? We don’t knock on tree trunks and ask them why their leaves aren’t blooming yet. We trust the timing. They’ll get there.
Why is it so hard to offer ourselves the same grace? There is strength in rest. There is power in preparation. There is momentum in measured movement.
So today, on March 4th, I’m choosing a slower, softer interpretation and I’m inviting you to do the same.
Spring will come. It always does. (Punxsutawney Phil confirmed it.) But we don’t have to force it.
Before this week ends, ask yourself:
Where do I need warmth?
What still needs tending from this winter?
What would “moving forward gently” look like for me right now?
You don’t need a full plan.
Just one small step.
One quiet decision.
One intentional pause.
Sometimes the bravest way to move forward is slowly and deliberately.
Happy March 4th. 🌿
This Week’s Cool Ideas & Resources
Wintering When You Need To
This book by Katherine May is this week’s Wednesday Wisdom theme in hardcover. In it, May writes about periods in life when we’re forced to slow down — grief, illness, transition — and reframes them as “wintering” seasons. Not failures. Not stagnation. Just natural cycles. The book gained wide recognition for its calm, meditative prose and relevance to readers navigating uncertainty. You can check it out here.
What’s the Deal with Daylight Savings?
Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. was first adopted during World War I in 1918 as a way to conserve fuel. The idea was simple: shift the clock to make better use of evening daylight. But here’s the interesting thing: We change the clock, but we don’t change the season. Even if sunset gets later, the body still knows it’s late winter. Read here for more about the history of this tradition.
Suddenly You’re an Author!
Looking for a fun, creative project to do before winter is over? A friend shared this with me and said it was so much fun to do. Book By Anyone allows you to create your own book in a matter of minutes. It also makes for a great gift when you write the book about a friend, and make them the main character!
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