Messy, Moving, and Making It Through

There’s something about spring that gently brings you back to yourself.

This morning after the rain, I went for a walk. The air felt fresh in that way it only does this time of year: cool, damp, and full of life. I found myself taking deeper breaths without even thinking about it. As I walked down the sidewalk, I started noticing nightcrawlers everywhere, slowly making their way across the concrete.

At first, I was just watching my step, trying not to hurt them. But then I slowed down. There was something about it that made me pause.

These little creatures had been pushed to the surface by the rain. They didn’t fight it, they just responded. They moved, even though the environment wasn’t exactly ideal. It made me think about how often that happens with our mental health.

Spring tends to come with this quiet pressure to feel better, more energized, more motivated. But the reality is, coming out of winter can feel a little messy. Things we’ve pushed down or ignored during the colder months start to come up. Stress, emotions, and old thoughts have a way of surfacing when things begin to shift. And when they do, it can feel uncomfortable. Exposed. A little overwhelming.

But that doesn’t mean something is wrong. Sometimes it just means you’re responding.

Mental health isn’t about keeping everything tucked away and looking put together. It’s about noticing when something changes and allowing yourself to adjust. To move through it, even if it’s slow or imperfect.

That walk was a reminder that growth doesn’t always look clean or easy. Sometimes it looks like paying attention. Sometimes it looks like being careful with your steps. Sometimes it looks like simply allowing things to be where they are.

Spring doesn’t rush, it unfolds.

Maybe we’re allowed to do the same.