On a visit to my local beach yesterday, the chilly swish of the wind and the soothing sight of the enlivened my soul. It had been too long. Although I live a short bus ride from the seafront, I rarely go unless I’m in the centre of town (which, sad to say, I rarely go to either). Naturally, it is freezing in the winter months, but with the right perspective, it can be truly invigorating.

Now it is heading into spring, I am so grateful that the cold months are passing and new life is being born everywhere. As I stared at the ocean, the tide in retreat in preparation for its return, I was reminded that the birth of life starts here; like our mother’s womb, it nourishes, feeds and transforms through its life cycle as sea, river, lake, rain and of course the oxygen that we breathe.

I am never more joyful than I am this time of year when the darkness of winter is over and the light once more returns, bathing my heart and soul in the Divinity which is always there but somehow so harder to touch in the winter. The beautiful spring flowers – daisies in particular as they are my favourites, but the daffodils, dandelions, primroses, the blossom on the trees – they each reflect my heart expanding to take in the beauty and colour of the season.

Everything goes through cycles; the moon and the tides are the epitome of that. I wish the spring – and the anticipation of summer – would never end, but if I remember my favourite quote by Albert Camus, there is an invincible summer within us all. As we gaze upon nature in its upcoming glory, this reflection of our true selves is a wonderful gift.