Plant seeds of kindness this spring

I’m looking forward to the first blooms of spring popping up to brighten our world.

We need a little brightness, as well as the fragrance of freshly-turned earth.

This year, we need to plant flowers and vegetables, as well as seeds of kindness, for our friends and neighbors.

As the blooms add color to the world, our seeds of kindness need to rally our community.

We are praying the COVID-19 vaccines will bring a much needed normalcy back into our lives, our community and the world.

Along with spring blossoms, I’m looking forward to being able to have a renewed spirit of togetherness by visiting family and friends near and far. I want to feel safe going to public events again. I want the public to feel safe planning events.

While I look forward to taking trips, visiting others and enjoying new experiences, I want to remember to view life in a new way. We all need to remember what we’ve learned about preventing illness and avoiding being exposed to diseases.

I believe masks may become a permanent piece of our wardrobe and I’m slowly adding to my collection. If I don’t need them and they go out of style, the members of my family yet to be born will have a good chuckle when they pick through my possessions and wonder why they are in my collections.

Most of all I want to remember to thank all the front line workers who put their own lives at risk to continue caring for others.

I want to thank everyone who made contacts with those who feel they could not safely get out of their homes, who picked up and delivered items to their friends, neighbors and anyone in need.

As spring arrives, I want to reflect on the ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth as I allow the seeds to sprout in my own life to be shared with others.

Barbara Horton is a staff writer at the Daily American Republic.

She can be reached at bhorton.dar@gmail.com.