5 Ways to Deliver Spring Early to Someone Who Is Discouraged

It seems like the gray, cold skies of winter will never end, especially for folks who are discouraged, ill, injured, or housebound. Let’s treat them to an early peek at spring. Nothing brings hope like a bit of green! Here’s how you can bring some cheer to someone who’s going through a bad time.

• Think bright and colorful! Give a gift that’s bright and cheery. With the skies still gloomy, a bright and fun blanket, pillowcase, robe, shirt, or socks might add a smile and color to the day. And, when you visit, be sure to wear something cheery and fun.
• Start some lettuce from seeds. Even if the outside garden plots are still covered with snow, you can still have a garden in a flowerpot. Bring a small planter full of soil and help your friend sow an inside garden. Then, just add a sunny window and water! For fun, think about bringing along a gift of a favorite salad dressing or some flavored vinegar and oil!
• Pour through seed catalogs. Ahhhh ... for garden lovers, the arrival of the January seed catalogs brings the hope of spring! What a perfect way to get a sick friend to start daydreaming of a better day. Pour through the seed catalogs together and have your friend pick out a favorite flower or veggie. Order the package of seeds and plant them in your yard as soon as the ground is ready. Take photos of the plants as they grow, harvest the flowers or veggies when they’re ready, and deliver the final product with a smile.
• Plant some spring bulbs in a colorful pot. Tulip, daffodil, narcissus, or amaryllis bulbs sprout really fast. You can almost watch them grow before your very eyes! They are fun to track as they grow, so include a brightly colored ruler with your gift.
• Deliver a magical trip to the beach. While we can’t all jump on a plane to a tropical destination, we can all pretend. Find a video that’s set on a beach or that’s filmed in a toasty-warm climate. Put together a fun package of brightly colored sunglasses, a beach ball, some great-smelling suntan lotion, some shells or sand from your last vacation and soon you’ll be out of the cold! Watch the video while you picnic with tangy lemonade, fish-shaped sandwiches, and some tropical fruit. Yeah! Now you can have a virtual beach moment!

So, here’s to sunny skies and warm breezes in the midst of winter. You may just find that as you bring cheer to someone else, you brighten your own spirits as well. Copyright 2014 Allidah Hicks and Bonnie Knuti. All rights reserved.