I’m going to pretend February didn’t happen. For me, it vanished in a fog of Nyquil, sleepless nights, and the constant ritual of trying to hack a shower without collapsing into a coughing fit. If you imagined I spent the month living a glamorous, child-free, carefree life—you can stop right there. Instead of late-night cocktails and Netflix binges, I lived on cold medicine and fuzzy socks. I don’t remember ever being that sick for so long: one illness rolled into another, beginning with the flu and progressing through rounds of strep throat and stubborn sinus infections. My body took a beating from both the illnesses themselves and the many medications needed to fight them. I’m still recovering and craving the simplicity of whole foods, long walks, and feeling like a crunchy, health-conscious version of myself again.
Because February was mostly a blur of tissues and tea, many of the plans I had did not get done. I’d made a list of reasonable goals—projects to tidy the house, a few long-postponed errands, and a couple of self-care rituals I wanted to keep—but illness derailed most of them. The intentions were sincere, and I fully expected to be a functioning adult. Since that didn’t happen, much of February’s list simply carried over into March. That’s life: sometimes goals wait patiently while we recover. Moving tasks forward doesn’t mean failure; it means you’re prioritizing health so you can come back stronger.
March is always an optimistic month for me. It marks the beginning of calendar spring, and even when the weather behaves like a moody teenager—warmer one day, icy the next—the lengthening daylight is unmistakable. Those late afternoons that used to go dark by five slowly push outward, giving us extra time to be outdoors. For people who suffer from winter blues or seasonal fatigue, this incremental return of sunlight offers real, tangible improvement in mood and energy.
If you work with kids or simply live with children, March is the season when outdoor play becomes feasible again. The shift from indoor confinement to running around outside is a relief for caregivers and for the children themselves. For anyone who despises treadmills and indoor exercise machines, the return of daylight and warmer temperatures means a joyful transition back to walks, bike rides, and playground visits that feel restorative rather than tedious.
Spring also awakens a surprising urge to tidy up. There’s something about brighter afternoons that makes us want to clean windows, wash the car, and finally sort that overflowing closet. Call it spring cleaning, seasonal renewal, or a practical way to make space for tank tops and shorts—whatever the motivation, it feels good to put things in order. This year my spring cleaning list includes some gentle projects: decluttering a few shelves, replacing worn-out linens, and planning meals that feel lighter and fresher.
On a personal note, March is special because it’s my birthday month, and I admit I get delightfully obnoxious about it. I savor the entire lead-up to my birthday—small celebrations, favorite meals, cozy evenings with friends. March 17th can arrive slowly; I prefer to enjoy the days before it, soaking in the sense that the world is, for a few weeks, conspiring to celebrate.
So welcome back, March. I’m ready for more sunshine, clearer sinuses, and the slow return of routines that make me feel well and alive. Stay tuned for updates as I move through recovery, tackle a few spring projects, and rediscover the simple pleasures of the season.