Nature models for us the natural ebb and flow of change. Seasons rhythmically roll in whether we feel prepared or not. When spring bursts forth, we celebrate the newness and beauty of blooming. We relish the summer sunshine. We welcome cooler breezes and the changing colors of fall. Winter can be tricky for some, but things slow and it feels like nature takes a collective exhale. Transitions from season to season can feel bittersweet. You may feel resistance heading into a new season, not ready to pack up the pieces of the current one.
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic.
It’s understandable if things feel especially foggy right now. Hope is on the horizon as more and more vaccines become available. Perhaps that feels like the ice of winter is beginning to melt, but the chill has not yet lifted.
As we grapple with what the past year has been and what transitions are coming, looking to the seasons may be helpful.
Winter is often viewed as a time of waiting. Much of nature lies dormant, waiting for the energy of spring. The pandemic forced us into a time of stillness and slowed pace. Our usual routines interrupted or now look so different. We were forced to wait. As winter snow blankets the earth, nature waits for a new spring to come.
Waiting can be an uncomfortable space.
Our “before COVID” lives seemed dependent on productivity, tangible progress toward goals and success, and gathering together. The stillness that resulted from an unanticipated pandemic was quick and confusing. The rough transition asking us to be in a season of waiting.
Waiting to hug a friend again.
Maybe you are waiting until you can grab a bite to eat where the only thing you think about is which delicious item to choose.
Waiting to thrive, not just feel like you’re surviving.
You’ve been waiting for some sort of normal to return.
Waiting for a vaccine.
What do you find yourself waiting for?
The first day of spring is this week. The transition of a new season is underway. Yet spring teaches us that transformation does not happen instantly. On March 21st we will not wake up to all of the trees bursting with new leaves, the flowers in full bloom, the summer heat on full blast. Instead, spring steadily moves forward and you can glimpse buds beginning to appear. Or perhaps you notice that cool breeze didn’t have the same chilling bite it did just a few weeks ago. Brave green leaves push up through the soil, the blooming flower to follow.
What does it look like to transition to a post-pandemic routine?
Taking our cues from nature, it will likely not happen all at once. The first piece may be the fog of winter lifting and rolling out. Underneath the fog, you may discover there is increased anxiety about leaving your house. This makes sense since it’s likely been the majority of your world for the last year. Maybe the intensity of grief meets you. The grief for pre-pandemic life. Mourning losses such as old daily routines, planned travel, marked milestones, or the loss of a loved one this past year. Perhaps there is confusion, a period of remembering. Forgotten wallets and lunches at home as you return to the office. Time management challenges as you remember just how long it takes to run all of the errands.
Rituals around transitions can be helpful ways to ease the shock of a new season.
Do you know where the tradition of “Spring Cleaning” comes from? The first homes had to be sealed tight to ward off the cold winters and the only source of heat and light in those dark months was coal, oil, and wood. After a long winter of burning those for sustenance, things in the house were looking black with dust from the layers of soot, ashes and wax. The sweet sun of springtime would break through and the family would haul out all of the furniture, clothing and everything else, and then together, would scrub the house sparkling clean again.
We are emerging from a dark winter, our lives caked with the soot of surviving during a global pandemic.
We are emerging from a dark winter, our lives caked with the soot of surviving during a global pandemic. There is hope that throughout the transitions, lightness would replace the heavy burdens. The therapists at ME-Therapy are here to support you through these transitions. Together, we strive to collaborate on “spring cleaning” – allowing space and time to slowly build your new normal. Just like spring slowly pulling nature back to growing and movement. ME-Therapy in St. Petersburg, FL is here to help you navigate through the confusion. We are passionate about helping you find ways to relieve the anxiety and take your next right step. We are here to support you as a new season of life unfolds.
Ready to Start Therapy to help with transitions post-COVID in Florida?
Beginning the journey back to peace is easier than most of the things we’re all doing right now! Counseling does not have to wait. You can get the mental health support you need with a skilled therapist in St. Pete or with online therapy in Florida. To begin, just follow these simple steps:
- Contact us to request an appointment
- Meet with one of our experienced therapists.
- Get support & begin your journey toward mental wellness & connection today!
Other Mental Health and Wellness Services at ME-Therapy
Therapy can take many forms. At our St. Petersburg therapy & wellness clinic, we want to will help your mind but also want to feed your soul. This means our therapists and wellness team take a holistic approach to your wellbeing. In order to do this, our therapists offer individual therapy for women, therapy for men, trauma therapy, therapy for anxiety, and holistic, spiritual therapy. In addition to standard marriage counseling & couples therapy, our relationship therapists also provide sex therapy, affair recovery counseling and poly-friendly kink aware therapy.
All of these services can be provided in-person at our St. Petersburg, FL counseling clinic or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Florida. If you have any questions about therapy, please visit our FAQ page! Also, you may consider reading more of our blog posts to get to know us a bit better. Finally, thank you for allowing ME-Therapy to be a part of your life journey!
